(Schenectady County, NY)  The Schenectady County Legislature will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 2, 2018 at 7pm to hear public comment on the addition of eight parcels to the County Agricultural District. The County Legislature will vote on the addition during its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 11, 2018.

“We are very pleased to consider adding these eight parcels totaling 434 aces to the County’s Agricultural District,” said Anthony Jasenski, Chairman of the Schenectady County Legislature. “The Agricultural District helps to maintain agricultural lands and open space in Schenectady County.  Maintaining a viable local agricultural industry is an important part of our economic development efforts.”

The goal of the district is to encourage the continued use of farmland for agricultural production and maintain and enhance the agricultural industry within Schenectady County.  The district provides a combination of landowner incentives and protections, all of which are designed to forestall the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses.

The County’s Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board met in February and unanimously approved the parcels and forwarded this recommendation to the County Legislature for their consideration.  Five of the parcels are located in Duanesburg and three are located in Rotterdam.

“Schenectady County is committed to our local farmers and we actively encourage them to request inclusion in the agricultural district,” said Holly Vellano, Chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Environmental Conservation, Renewable Energy & Parks.  “We are pleased that so many local farmers and growers are taking advantage of this program that helps to foster a better agriculture business environment and maintain open space in Schenectady County.”

If approved, the Schenectady County Agricultural District would consist of 19,673 acres representing approximately 15 percent of the County land area.

Contact:
Joe McQueen
Director of Communications, Schenectady County
(518) 388-4772