Planning

The Cattarugus County Legislature will hold a Public Hearing on the Eight Year Review of The Ashford Meadows Agricultural District

A Public Hearing will be held by the County Legislature on Cattaraugus County Agricultural District #6, locally known as the Ashford Meadows Agricultural District on the 26th day of November 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ashford Community Center, 9377 Route 240, West Valley, New York. The public hearing is to consider the original proposal, any written amendments proposed during the thirty-day review period (April 24, 2006 – May 24, 2006) and the recommendations of the Cattaraugus County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board.

An Informational Meeting will be held on the same date at the same location at 6:30 p.m. to provide a more detailed description of the proposed modifications, to answer any questions relative to what an agricultural district is, and to address any other concerns relative to inclusion in an agricultural district.

On July 18, 1982, Cattaraugus County Agricultural District #6, locally referred to as the Ashford Meadows District, located in the Towns of Ashford, Ellicottville, Franklinville, Machias and East Otto was created and contained 3,375 acres.

As required under Section 303 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, a district must be reviewed eight years after its creation and every eight years thereafter. Upon its subsequent reviews in 1990 and 1998, the District was modified to include 13,633 acres.

Pursuant to Article 25AA, Section 303 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, an eight-year review of the District is currently being performed.

Having reviewed all the available information pertaining to the area in question, it is the conclusion and recommendation of the Cattaraugus County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board that the Ashford Meadows Agricultural District should continue for another eight (8) years as modified:

  1. To include all those parcels which are currently listed as being located in the Ashford Meadows Agricultural District.
  2. Several parcels located within the existing district boundary, which are not currently in any district, all of which are classified agricultural land (100’s) on the Cattaraugus County Real Property Tax Rolls and/or are considered viable to active farming and located in the Towns of Ashford and Ellicottville are recommended for inclusion.
  3. To exclude two (2) parcels, one located in the Town of Franklinville, and another located in the Town of Machias, that are currently located within the Farmersville-Freedom Agricultural district. Due to their location within the Farmersville-Freedom Agricultural District, it is not necessary that these remain in the Ashford Meadows Agricultural District.
  4. To exclude from the District those parcels being requested, by the landowner, for exclusion (none requested).
  5. To include within the District those parcels being requested, by the landowner, for inclusion (six parcels requested).

The proposed modified District is to be bounded on the North by the Cattaraugus Creek and Cattaraugus County/Erie County line; on the South by the southern boundary of Parcel #38.004-1-22.1, 38.003-1-20, and 38.003-1-26.3; eastern boundary of Parcel #46.002-1-18, southern boundary of Parcel #46.002-1-16.1, and 46.002-1-9.1; on the East by the Ashford/Yorkshire/Machias Town Line and Ellicottville/Machias/Franklinville Town Line and on the West by the Ashford/East Otto Town Line and Ellicottville/East Otto/Mansfield Town Line.

A description and map of the proposed District and the recommendation of the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board may be examined in the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism, 303 Court Street, Little Valley, New York 14755. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact James H. Isaacson, Senior Planner at 716-938-2320.

Any municipality or landowner being considered for inclusion within the proposed District may recommend a modification of such District by writing the Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism no later than November 26, 2007. Also, any involved municipality or landowner wishing to comment will be heard by the Cattaraugus County Legislature at this Public Hearing.

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