[[1]HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Lima 6-2-2011 by L.L. No.
5-2011. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to recognize the importance of
agriculture as an integral component of the rural character that enhances
the quality of life of all residents of the Town of Lima and to assure
the continued viability of agriculture as an industry which is important
to the local economy and to the preservation of open space and vistas
in the Town of Lima. In addition, this chapter is intended to:
A.
Encourage
the wise use and management of the Town's natural resources through
best management farming practices that support the most beneficial
relationship between the use of land and buildings and the agricultural
practices of the community; and
B.
Provide
the Town Board, Planning Board and other relevant boards or committees
of the Town of Lima with an advisory body on a variety of matters
of importance to or which may impact the agricultural community of
the Town of Lima.
A.
The
Committee shall be appointed by the Town Board and be composed of
one resident not associated with agriculture and six members of the
Town of Lima agricultural community. At least five members of the
agricultural community must be residents of the Town of Lima; no more
than one member of the agricultural community may be a nonresident
farmer who owns and farms land in the Town of Lima.
B.
One
member of each of the Town Board and the Planning Board shall serve
as liaison to the Agricultural Advisory Committee.
C.
The
members appointed to the Committee shall serve for a three-year term.
Upon initial formation, two members shall serve for a one-year term,
two members for a two-year term and all others for a three-year term.
Each year thereafter reappointments or new appointments will be for
three-year terms.
D.
Appointments
shall be from January 1 through December 31.
E.
Members
shall serve without salary.
F.
The
Town Board shall appoint a Chairperson or, on failure to do so, the
Agriculture Advisory Committee shall elect a Chairperson from its
own members. The Chairperson shall serve for a term of one year, which
term may be subsequently extended at the discretion of the Town Board.
G.
Meetings
will be called by the Chairperson as needed, but no less than one
time per year.
The Agricultural Advisory Committee shall:
A.
Advise
the Town Board and the County Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board in relation to the proposed establishment, modification, continuation
or termination of any county agricultural district. The Committee
shall present advice relating to the desirability of such action,
including advice as to the nature of farming and farm resources within
any proposed or established area.
B.
Review
any agricultural data statements forwarded to the Committee and provide
for a publicized time and location for discussion of potential impacts
on the neighboring farms.
C.
Review
any proposed local law or policy reasonably affecting agricultural
land or agricultural operations within any Town agricultural zoning
district or within or contiguous to a county agricultural district.
D.
Review
any application to the Town Board, Planning Board or Zoning Board
of Appeals affecting property within any Town agricultural zoning
district or within or contiguous to a county agricultural district.
E.
Review
the State Agriculture and Markets Law on an annual basis for amendments
that may affect agriculture and policies affecting agriculture in
the Town, and report findings to the Town Board.
F.
Review
other county and state legislation affecting agriculture in the Town
of Lima that are brought to its attention, identify issues related
to the proposed legislation and report on said issues to the Town
Board and other appropriate board or committee.
G.
Participate
in the review and consideration of any public infrastructure improvements
proposed within Agricultural Use Districts A. Evaluate all such proposals
and provide recommendations which account for the potential impacts
on agricultural operations to the Town Board and to the Livingston
County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board.
H.
Conduct,
in collaboration with the Town Highway Superintendent, a review of
drainage ditch conditions within agricultural areas of the Town as
needed, and report findings to the Town Board.
I.
Serve
as a vehicle for communication between the agricultural community,
boards and committees of the Town of Lima and the County Agricultural
and Farmland Protection Board.
J.
Reports
of findings on matters reviewed by the Committee shall be compiled
and submitted annually to the Town Board and shall serve as a record
of the Committee's activities.
A.
Any
matter referred to the Agricultural Advisory Committee for possible
review and consideration shall be transmitted in written form to all
members of said board as soon as may be practical by another referring
board and/or by the Code Enforcement Officer or Town Attorney, as
the case may be. If the referral is reasonably determined to require
the review of the Agricultural Advisory Committee, the Chairman shall
convene a meeting of said board and render its opinion or response
to said referral within 30 days of the date of the referral to said
board. With the advice and consent of a majority of the Committee
members, if the Chairman of said Agricultural Advisory Committee shall
determine that such referral does not reasonably require a formal
review by the convened Agricultural Review Board, the Chairman shall
so advise the Code Enforcement Officer and/or the chairman of the
referring board, whereupon the Agricultural Advisory Review Board
shall have been deemed to have discharged its responsibility to act
on such referral.
B.
The
review of any referral to the Agricultural Advisory Committee is to
be undertaken concurrently with any review that may be necessary pursuant
to local law or regulation by the Lima Historical Commission. It is intended that, if dual reviews
are required by each of these two entities, the review period for
both boards to consider and render an opinion in such referral shall
not be greater than the longer or greater review period separately
given to either board.
C.
The
Agricultural Advisory Committee is charged with the review of referrals
found to be appropriately before the Committee and to prepare a report
presenting comment and advice relating to the desirability of such
action within the context of the Town of Lima Farmland Protection
Plan and related zoning and/or planning regulations. Such report shall
include comment and advice as to the nature of the potential impact
of said referral matter upon farming and farm resources within any
proposed or established area potentially impacted by said action.
This report shall include a determination of the Committee as to whether
the proposed action or actions will have an unreasonable adverse effect
on the continuing viability of a farm enterprise or enterprises within
the county or Town agricultural districts.
D.
The
reports and recommendations of the Agricultural Advisory Committee
shall be advisory only.
