Neighbor opposes ag‑district expansion tied to proposed wedding venue; owners say property is longstanding farm

A public hearing June 16 before the Ulster County Legislature drew testimony from neighbors and landowners over a petition to add land to a local agricultural district under Article 25‑A of the Agriculture and Markets Law.

Lucas Mandello, a third‑generation owner of land adjacent to the parcel in question, told the Legislature the district change was being pursued so a currently unpermitted wedding venue could be legalized. "Over the past two years, we've all on this road been subjected to noise, to traffic, and to just disrespect from these people that are requesting this," Mandello said, asking the county to scrutinize the request to prevent a commercial use embedded inside a tight residential area.

Property owners rebutted that claim. One speaker who identified themself as Adam Broza said the structures are historic farm buildings predating the agricultural district and emphasized the parcel’s farming uses — horses, small livestock, and assorted crops — and the owners’ efforts to sustain and deepen agricultural enterprise. Broza and others said adding the land to the district would help sustain farm operations and preserve open‑space uses rather than enable inappropriate commercialization.

County staff (represented in the record by Cornell Cooperative Extension and a representative from the Department of Agriculture and Markets who inspected the property) also visited the site, according to owners who spoke. After the exchange of claims and rebuttals, the public hearing was closed without a vote that night.