The Catskill Chronicle

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (March 24, 2014) – Sullivan County is accepting applications from property owners seeking to be included in New York State Agricultural Districts 1 and 4, beginning April 1 and ending April 30, 2014. The Districts promote the preservation of agricultural land and encourage the continued use of farmland for agricultural production by protecting farmers from restrictive local laws, providing them with tax incentives, and requiring that governments notify farmers of projects that could adversely affect farmland. Agricultural District 1 encompasses towns in northern and western Sullivan County, and Agricultural District 4 covers the County’s eastern and southern towns.

Eligible parcels must predominantly consist of viable agricultural land, defined by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Law as land highly suitable for agricultural production and which will continue to be economically feasible for such use if real property taxes, farm use restrictions and speculative activities are limited to levels approximating those in commercial agricultural areas not influenced by the proximity of non-agricultural development.

Inclusion in the County’s NYS agricultural districts is voluntary and requires an application made during the upcoming thirty day window. The brief application requires an explanation of why the land should be included, along with owner contact information and the property’s location and tax parcel numbers. Applications should be submitted to the Sullivan County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, in care of the Sullivan County Legislature. The Board will make recommendations to the County Legislature for each request. The County Legislature will hold a public hearing and then vote on the approval of each recommended request. Subsequent to County approval, an updated district map with a report showing the new parcels for inclusion will be submitted to the State Department of Agriculture and Markets for State approval. Upon approval by Agriculture and Markets, each property owner will be notified by mail and the real property tax records for each parcel will be updated. Applicants will receive notification by fall.

Interested property owners may obtain an application by calling Melinda Meddaugh, Agricultural Planner with at the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management, at 845-807-0527, melinda.meddaugh@co.sullivan.ny.us, or by visiting the County website at: Agriculture Application