Committee sets public hearing for agricultural-district additions and approves AG board bylaw changes

Tompkins County’s Planning, Energy and Environmental Quality Committee on March 5 voted unanimously to schedule a May public hearing on four applications seeking to add six parcels to Agriculture Districts No. 1 and 2 (resolution ID 13920) and approved amendments to the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board bylaws (ID 13921).

Crystal Buck, farmland protection educator at Cooperative Extension and staff support to the county’s Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, told the committee that open enrollment for ag-district inclusion closed with four property-owner requests covering six parcels. The board will prepare a report and recommend whether each parcel should be included; the public hearing will be scheduled in May and the legislature will act after public comment and the board’s recommendation.

On the bylaw amendments, Crystal said the changes reconcile county policy—where ex officio members are not allowed to vote—with New York State Agriculture and Markets law, which designates certain ex officio seats. The amendment redefines those positions as department representatives so the board can function while respecting county rules. Crystal said the county attorney had reviewed and edited the bylaw language.

Votes and next steps: Rachel moved and Judith seconded the motion to schedule the public hearing (ID 13920); the committee approved it unanimously. Adam moved and Rachel seconded the bylaw changes (ID 13921); members voted to adopt the amendments. The county clerk will publish required notices and the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board will review applications and make formal recommendations before the hearing.