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Three open-space requests totaling about $300,000 seek Orange County support
Summary
The Orange County Planning Department received three applications to the county Open Space Fund — Blackstone Farm (58 acres) seeking $119,000, John & Jesse Wood Trust (≈24.3 acres) seeking $50,000, and the Emmerich Trust requesting a $137,500 PDR. The county review and ranking will run before an expected July Legislature vote.
The Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board heard from A. Sorensen that the Orange County Planning Department "received three Open Space Fund applications" with a combined cost of roughly $300,000. The projects include Blackstone Farm in the Town of Montgomery (58 acres; OCLT applied and is pursuing an NRCS matching fund and $119,000 from the county), the John & Jesse Wood Trust along State Route 94 South in the Town of Warwick (about 24.3 acres requesting $50,000 for a conservation easement), and the Emmerich Family Irrevocable Trust at 101 Sleepy Valley Road (Town of Warwick), whose owner is requesting $137,500 via a purchase of development rights (PDR).
Sorensen outlined the county review process: the Planning Department first screens eligibility, eligible applications are referred to the Open Space Committee (members of the Orange County Planning Board plus three county legislators) for ranking (about a ten-day review window), and the committee will make a recommendation to the Orange County Legislature. Sorensen told the board he has requested $1 million in this year’s county budget to replenish Open Space Fund reserves and said the Legislature will "probably vote on this funding round in July." He also said the county expects a fall funding round with applications due Sept. 25 and that a pipeline of projects from OCLT, OSI and similar organizations may follow.
The board took no formal action on the applications at the meeting; members discussed eligibility review steps and timelines and noted potential external funding matches such as NRCS. The Open Space Committee recommendation and the Legislature’s July vote will determine whether the requested county funds are approved.
