(WNY News Now) The deadline for Chautauqua County landowners to propose the inclusion of viable agricultural land in the county’s designated agricultural district is January 31, 2025. Landowners can secure the district’s protections and advantages during this yearly chance.
New York’s Jamestown.The Chautauqua County Legislature has set January 2–31, 2025, as the annual 30-day window for landowners to request the inclusion of primarily viable agricultural land in an existing certified agricultural district, in accordance with New York State Agriculture and Markets Law 303-b.
Landowners may make formal requests to be included in the Agricultural District during this time. The Agriculture and Markets Law 301, section 7 criterion of productive agricultural property must be met by parcels seeking inclusion. It is not necessary for lands that are already part of the district to make a request.
Landowners who wish to have their property included in the Agricultural District must fill out the Agricultural District Inclusion Worksheet, which includes a written description of the property, the tax map identification number, and a copy of the pertinent section of a tax map that shows the property’s location. This spreadsheet, the most recent Agricultural Districts Map, and more information are available at:bit.ly/CHQaginclusion, the website of the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development. The relevant map can be printed from the County’s GIS website, which is accessible at bit.ly/CHQgis. All requests for inclusion must be sent by 4:30 p.m. on January 31, 2025, to the Department of Planning and Development, Attn: Lauren Sharp, 201 West Third St., Suite 115, Jamestown, N.Y. 14701, or by email [email protected] during the January 2–31 inclusion period will requests for inclusion be considered.
The Chautauqua County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) will assess the proposed parcels for inclusion at the conclusion of the 30-day period. A report will be prepared for review by the Planning & Economic Development (PED) Legislative Committee based on the suggestions made by the AFPB. These proposals will be sent to the County Legislature for a public hearing following their evaluation by the PED Legislative Committee. The Legislature will vote by resolution to accept the AFPB’s recommendations after the public hearing. The resolution will thereafter be forwarded by the County Legislature to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for certification about the inclusion of lands. The land becomes a component of the Agricultural District if the Commissioner certifies that the parcels are included.
A region that is primarily made up of productive agricultural land is known as an agricultural district. The district’s primary land use and the one that receives advantages is agriculture. Protections are given to certain farming activities in order to encourage farm continuity and land preservation. This is not to be confused with the agricultural assessment program, which permits the taxation of qualified farms both inside and outside of agricultural districts. To learn more about agricultural assessment for their parcel or parcels, landowners may consult their local assessor.
Visit the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development website at bit.ly/CHQaginclusion for additional details regarding the Agricultural District Inclusion Period or to find out if your property is located inside an Agricultural District. You can also get in touch with Lauren Sharp at (716) 661-8245 [email protected].