Source: http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/nuisance/ny_nuis.htm
Timestamp: 2017-11-25 05:32:11
Document Index: 566486966

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1300', '§ 300', '§ 302', '§ 303', '§ 303', '§ 304', '§ 304', '§ 304', '§ 305', '§ 9', '§ 305', '§ 306', '§ 307', '§ 308', '§ 308', '§ 309', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 310']

New York Agricultural Protection Act
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW CHAPTER 45 OF THE CONSOLIDATED LAWS
ARTICLE 13--NUISANCES AND SANITATION
TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS; CONTROL AND ABATEMENT
§ 1300-c. Farming activities
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the agricultural activities conducted on a farm, as defined in section six hundred seventy-one of the labor law, shall not be considered a private nuisance, provided such agricultural activities were commenced prior to the surrounding activities, have not increased substantially in magnitude or intensity and have not been determined to be the cause of conditions dangerous to life or health as determined by the commissioner, the local health officer or local board of health pursuant to sections thirteen hundred, thirteen hundred-a, thirteen hundred three and thirteen hundred four of this chapter.
ARTICLE 25AA--AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS
§ 300. Declaration of legislative findings and intent
It is hereby found and declared that many of the agricultural lands in New York state are in jeopardy of being lost for any agricultural purposes. When nonagricultural development extends into farm areas, competition for limited land resources results. Ordinances inhibiting farming tend to follow, farm taxes rise, and hopes for speculative gains discourage investments in farm improvements, often leading to the idling or conversion of potentially productive agricultural land.
The socio-economic vitality of agriculture in this state is essential to the economic stability and growth of many local communities and the state as a whole. It is, therefore, the declared policy of the state to conserve, protect and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural land for production of food and other agricultural products. It is also the declared policy of the state to conserve and protect agricultural lands as valued natural and ecological resources which provide needed open spaces for clean air sheds, as well as for aesthetic purposes.
The constitution of the state of New York directs the legislature to provide for the protection of agricultural lands. It is the purpose of this article to provide a locally-initiated mechanism for the protection and enhancement of New York state's agricultural land as a viable segment of the local and state economies and as an economic and environmental resource of major importance.
1. "Agricultural assessment value" means the value per acre assigned to land for assessment purposes determined pursuant to the capitalized value of production procedure prescribed by section three hundred four-a of this article.
2. "Crops, livestock and livestock products" shall include but not be limited to the following:
a. Field crops, including corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, hay, potatoes and dry beans.
b. Fruits, including apples, peaches, grapes, cherries and berries.
c. Vegetables, including tomatoes, snap beans, cabbage, carrots, beets and onions.
d. Horticultural specialties, including nursery stock, ornamental shrubs, ornamental trees and flowers.
e. Livestock and livestock products, including cattle, sheep, hogs, goats, horses, poultry, ratites, such as ostriches, emus, rheas and kiwis, farmed deer, farmed buffalo, fur bearing animals, milk, eggs and furs.
f. Maple sap.
g. Christmas trees derived from a managed Christmas tree operation whether dug for transplanting or cut from the stump.
i. Woody biomass, which means short rotation woody crops raised for bioenergy, and shall not include farm woodland.
3. "Farm woodland" means land used for the production for sale of woodland products, including but not limited to logs, lumber, posts and firewood. Farm woodland shall not include land used to produce Christmas trees or land used for the processing or retail merchandising of woodland products.
4. "Land used in agricultural production" means not less than seven acres of land used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of ten thousand dollars or more; or, not less than seven acres of land used in the preceding two years to support a commercial horse boarding operation with annual gross receipts of ten thousand dollars or more. Land used in agricultural production shall not include land or portions thereof used for processing or retail merchandising of such crops, livestock or livestock products. Land used in agricultural production shall also include:
a. Rented land which otherwise satisfies the requirements for eligibility for an agricultural assessment.
b. Land of not less than seven acres used as a single operation for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products, exclusive of woodland products, which does not independently satisfy the gross sales value requirement, where such land was used in such production for the preceding two years and currently is being so used under a written rental arrangement of five or more years in conjunction with land which is eligible for an agricultural assessment.
c. Land used in support of a farm operation or land used in agricultural production, constituting a portion of a parcel, as identified on the assessment roll, which also contains land qualified for an agricultural assessment.
d. Farm woodland which is part of land which is qualified for an agricultural assessment, provided, however, that such farm woodland attributable to any separately described and assessed parcel shall not exceed fifty acres.
e. Land set aside through participation in a federal conservation program pursuant to title one of the federal food security act of nineteen hundred eighty-five or any subsequent federal programs established for the purposes of replenishing highly erodible land which has been depleted by continuous tilling or reducing national surpluses of agricultural commodities and such land shall qualify for agricultural assessment upon application made pursuant to paragraph a of subdivision one of section three hundred five of this article, except that no minimum gross sales value shall be required.
f. Land of not less than seven acres used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of ten thousand dollars or more, or land of less than seven acres used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of fifty thousand dollars or more.
g. Land under a structure within which crops, livestock or livestock products are produced, provided that the sales of such crops, livestock or livestock products meet the gross sales requirements of paragraph f of this subdivision.
5. "Oil or gas exploration, development or extraction activities" means the installation and use of fixtures and equipment which are necessary for the exploration, development or extraction of oil or natural gas, including access roads, drilling apparatus, pumping facilities and pipelines.
6. "Unique and irreplaceable agricultural land" means land which is uniquely suited for the production of high value crops, including, but not limited to fruits, vegetables and horticultural specialties.
7. "Viable agricultural land" means 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.
8. "Conversion" means an outward or affirmative act changing the use of agricultural land and shall not mean the nonuse or idling of such land.
9. "Gross sales value" means the proceeds from the sale of:
a. Crops, livestock and livestock products produced on land used in agricultural production provided, however, that whenever a crop is processed before sale, the proceeds shall be based upon the market value of such crop in its unprocessed state;
b. Woodland products from farm woodland eligible to receive an agricultural assessment, not to exceed two thousand dollars annually;
c. Honey and beeswax produced by bees in hives located on an otherwise qualified farm operation but which does not independently satisfy the gross sales requirement; and
d. Maple syrup processed from maple sap produced on land used in agricultural production in conjunction with the same or an otherwise qualified farm operation.
e. Or payments received by reason of land set aside pursuant to paragraph e of subdivision four of this section.
f. Or payments received by thoroughbred breeders pursuant to section two hundred forty-seven of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law.
[10. Renumbered 9.]
11. "Farm operation" means the land and on-farm buildings, equipment, manure processing and handling facilities, and practices which contribute to the production, preparation and marketing of crops, livestock and livestock products as a commercial enterprise, including a "commercial horse boarding operation" as defined in subdivision thirteen of this section. Such farm operation may consist of one or more parcels of owned or rented land, which parcels may be contiguous or noncontiguous to each other.
12. "Agricultural data statement" means an identification of farm operations within an agricultural district located within five hundred feet of the boundary of property upon which an action requiring municipal review and approval by the planning board, zoning board of appeals, town board, or village board of trustees pursuant to article sixteen of the town law or article seven of the village law is proposed, as provided in section three hundred five-a of this article.
13. "Commercial horse boarding operation" means an agricultural enterprise, consisting of at least seven acres and boarding at least ten horses, regardless of ownership, that receives ten thousand dollars or more in gross receipts annually from fees generated either through the boarding of horses or through the production for sale of crops, livestock, and livestock products, or through both such boarding and such production. Under no circumstances shall this subdivision be construed to include operations whose primary on site function is horse racing.
§ 302. County agricultural and farmland protection board
1. (a) A county legislative body may establish a county agricultural and farmland protection board which shall consist of eleven members, at least four of whom shall be active farmers. At least one member of such board shall represent agribusiness and one member may represent an organization dedicated to agricultural land preservation. These six members of the board shall reside within the county which the respective board serves. The members of the board shall also include the chairperson of the county soil and water conservation district's board of directors, a member of the county legislative body, a county cooperative extension agent, the county planning director and the county director of real property tax services. The chairperson shall be chosen by majority vote. Such board shall be established in the event no such board exists at the time of receipt by the county legislative body of a petition for the creation or review of an agricultural district pursuant to section three hundred three of this article, or at the time of receipt by the county of a notice of intent filing pursuant to subdivision four of section three hundred five of this article. The members of such board shall be appointed by the chairperson of the county legislative body, who shall solicit nominations from farm membership organizations except for the chairperson of the county soil and water conservation district's board of directors, the county planning director and director of real property tax services, who shall serve ex officio. The members shall serve without salary, but the county legislative body may entitle each such member to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.
(b) After the board has been established, the chairperson of the county legislative body shall appoint to it two qualified persons for terms of two years each, two qualified persons for terms of three years each and two qualified persons for a term of four years. Thereafter, the appointment of each member shall be for a term of four years. Appointment of a member of the county legislative body shall be for a term coterminous with the member's term of office. Appointment of the county planning director and county director of real property tax services shall be coterminous with their tenure in such office. The appointment of the chairperson of the county soil and water conservation district's board of directors shall be for a term coterminous with his or her designation as chairperson of the county soil and water conservation district's board of directors. Any member of the board may be reappointed for a succeeding term on such board without limitations as to the number of terms the member may serve.
(c) The county agricultural and farmland protection board shall advise the county legislative body and work with the county planning board in relation to the proposed establishment, modification, continuation or termination of any agricultural district. The board shall render expert 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 and the relation of farming in such area to the county as a whole. The board may review notice of intent filings pursuant to subdivision four of section three hundred five of this article and make findings and recommendations pursuant to that section as to the effect and reasonableness of proposed actions involving the advance of public funds or acquisitions of farmland in agricultural districts by governmental entities. The board shall also assess and approve county agricultural and farmland protection plans.
(d) A county agricultural and farmland protection board may request the commissioner of agriculture and markets to review any state agency rules and regulations which the board identifies as affecting the agricultural activities within an existing or proposed agricultural district. Upon receipt of any such request, the commissioner of agriculture and markets shall, if the necessary funds are available, submit in writing to the board (i) notice of changes in such rules and regulations which he or she deems necessary, (ii) a copy of correspondence with another agency if such rules and regulations are outside his or her jurisdiction, including such rules and regulations being reviewed, and his or her recommendations for modification, or (iii) his or her reasons for determining that existing rules and regulations be continued without modification.
(e) The county agricultural and farmland protection board shall notify the commissioner and the commissioner of the department of environmental conservation of any attempts to propose the siting of solid waste management facilities upon farmland within an agricultural district.
2. Upon the request of one or more owners of land used in agricultural production the board may review the land classification for such land established by the department of agriculture and markets, consulting with the district soil and water conservation office, and the county cooperative extension service office. After such review, the board may recommend revisions to the classification of specific land areas based on local soil, land and climatic conditions to the department of agriculture and markets.
§ 303. Agricultural districts; creation
1. Any owner or owners of land may submit a proposal to the county legislative body for the creation of an agricultural district within such county, provided that such owner or owners own at least five hundred acres or at least ten per cent of the land proposed to be included in the district, whichever is greater. Such proposal shall be submitted in such manner and form as may be prescribed by the commissioner, shall include a description of the proposed district, including a map delineating the exterior boundaries of the district which shall conform to tax parcel boundaries, and the tax map identification numbers for every parcel in the proposed district. The proposal may recommend an appropriate review period of either eight, twelve or twenty years.
2. Upon the receipt of such a proposal, the county legislative body:
a. shall thereupon provide notice of such proposal by publishing a notice in a newspaper having general circulation within the proposed district and by posting such notice in five conspicuous places within the proposed district. The notice shall contain the following information:
(1) a statement that a proposal for an agricultural district or proposal for inclusion of agricultural land into a certified agricultural district has been filed with the county legislature pursuant to this article;
(2) a statement that the proposal will be on file open to public inspection in the county clerk's office;
(3) a statement that any municipality whose territory encompasses the proposed district or any landowner who owns at least ten per cent of the land proposed to be included within the proposed modification of the proposed district may propose a modification of the proposed district in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the commissioner of agriculture and markets;
(4) a statement that the proposed modification must be filed with the county clerk and the clerk of the county legislature within thirty days after the publication of such notice;
(5) a statement that at the termination of the thirty day period, the proposal and proposed modifications will be submitted to the county planning board and county agricultural and farmland protection board and that thereafter a public hearing will be held on the proposal, proposed modifications and recommendations of the planning board and county agricultural and farmland protection board;
b. shall receive any proposals for modifications of such proposal which may be submitted by such landowners or municipalities within thirty days after the publication of such notice;
c. shall, upon the termination of such thirty day period, refer such proposal and proposed modifications to the county planning board, which shall, within forty-five days, report to the county legislative body the potential effect of such proposal and proposed modifications upon the county's planning policies and objectives;
d. shall simultaneously, upon the termination of such thirty day period, refer such proposal and proposed modifications to the county agricultural and farmland protection board, which shall, within forty-five days report to the county legislative body its recommendations concerning the proposal and proposed modifications, and;
e. shall hold a public hearing in the following manner:
(1) The hearing shall be held at a place within the proposed district or otherwise readily accessible to the proposed district;
(a) a statement of the time, date and place of the public hearing;
(b) a description of the proposed district, any proposed additions and any recommendations of the county planning board or county agricultural and farmland protection board;
(c) a statement that the public hearing will be held concerning:
(i) the original proposal;
(ii) any written amendments proposed during the thirty day review period;
(iii) any recommendations proposed by the county agricultural and farmland protection board and/or the county planning board.
(3) The notice shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation within the proposed district and shall be given in writing to those municipalities whose territory encompasses the proposed district and any proposed modifications, owners of real property within such a proposed district or any proposed modifications who are listed on the most recent assessment roll, the commissioner, the commissioner of environmental conservation and the advisory council on agriculture.
3. The following factors shall be considered by the county planning board, the county agricultural and farmland protection board, and at any public hearing:
i. the viability of active farming within the proposed district and in areas adjacent thereto;
ii. the presence of any viable farm lands within the proposed district and adjacent thereto that are not now in active farming;
iii. the nature and extent of land uses other than active farming within the proposed district and adjacent thereto;
iv. county developmental patterns and needs; and
v. any other matters which may be relevant.
In judging viability, any relevant agricultural viability maps prepared by the commissioner of agriculture and markets shall be considered, as well as soil, climate, topography, other natural factors, markets for farm products, the extent and nature of farm improvements, the present status of farming, anticipated trends in agricultural economic conditions and technology, and such other factors as may be relevant.
4. The county legislative body, after receiving the reports of the county planning board and the county agricultural and farmland protection board and after such public hearing, may adopt as a plan the proposal or any modification of the proposal it deems appropriate, and shall adopt as part of the plan an appropriate review period of either eight, twelve or twenty years, or may adopt a proposal to include viable agricultural land within an existing certified agricultural district. The plan as adopted shall, to the extent feasible, include adjacent viable farm lands, and exclude, to the extent feasible, nonviable farm land and non-farm land. The plan shall include only whole tax parcels in the proposed district. The county legislative body shall act to adopt or reject the proposal, or any modification of it, no later than one hundred eighty days from the date the proposal was submitted to this body. Upon the adoption of a plan, the county legislative body shall submit it to the commissioner. The commissioner may, upon application by the county legislative body and for good cause shown, extend the period for adoption and submission once for an additional thirty days. Where he or she does so, the county legislative body may extend the period for the report from the county planning board and/or the period for the report from the county agricultural and farmland protection board.
5. a. The commissioner shall have sixty days after receipt of the plan within which to certify to the county legislative body whether the proposal, or a modification of the proposal, is eligible for districting, whether the area to be districted consists predominantly of viable agricultural land, and whether the plan of the proposed district is feasible, and will serve the public interest by assisting in maintaining a viable agricultural industry within the district and the state. The commissioner shall submit a copy of such plan to the commissioner of environmental conservation, who shall have thirty days within which to report his or her determination to the commissioner. A copy of such plan shall also be provided to the advisory council on agriculture. The commissioner shall not certify the plan as eligible for districting unless the commissioner of environmental conservation has determined that the area to be districted is consistent with state environmental plans, policies and objectives.
b. The commissioner shall have sixty days after receipt of the plan within which to certify to the county legislative body whether the proposal to include viable agricultural land within a certified agricultural district is eligible, feasible, and consists predominantly of viable agricultural land and will serve the public interest by assisting in maintaining a viable agricultural industry within the district and the state.
6. a. Within sixty days after the certification by the commissioner that the proposed area is eligible for districting, and that districting would be consistent with state environmental plans, policies and objectives, the county legislative body may hold a public hearing on the plan, except that it shall hold a public hearing if the plan was modified by the commissioner or was modified by the county legislative body after they held the public hearing required by paragraph e of subdivision two of this section and such modification was not considered at the original hearing. Notice of any such hearing shall be in a newspaper having general circulation in the area of the proposed district and individual notice, in writing, to those municipalities whose territories encompass the proposed district modifications, the persons owning land directly affected by the proposed district modifications, the commissioner, the commissioner of environmental conservation and the advisory council on agriculture. The proposed district, if certified without modification by the commissioner, shall become effective thirty days after the termination of such public hearing or, if there is no public hearing, ninety days after such certification unless its creation is disapproved by the county legislative body within such period. Provided, however, that if, on a date within the thirty days after the termination of such public hearing or, if there is no public hearing, within the ninety days after such certification, the county legislative body approves creation of the district, such district shall become effective on such date. Provided further, that notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, if the commissioner modified the proposal, the district shall not become effective unless the county legislative body approves the modified district; such approval must be given on a date within the thirty days after the termination of the public hearing; and the district, if approved, shall become effective on such date. Before approving or disapproving any proposal modified by the commissioner, the county legislative body may request reports on such modified proposal, from the county planning board and the county agricultural and farmland protection board.
b. Within sixty days after the certification by the commissioner that the proposed inclusion of viable agricultural land is eligible, the county legislative body may hold a public hearing on the plan. The proposed inclusion of viable agricultural land, if certified by the commissioner, shall become effective thirty days after the termination of such public hearing, or, if there is no public hearing, ninety days after such certification unless its creation is disapproved by the county legislative body within such period. Provided, however, that if, on a date within the thirty days after the termination of such public hearing or, if there is no public hearing, within the ninety days after such certification, the county legislative body approves the proposal to include viable agricultural land to the district, such inclusion shall become effective on such date.
7. Upon the creation of an agricultural district, the description thereof, which shall include tax map identification numbers for all parcels within the district, plus a map delineating the exterior boundaries of the district in relation to tax parcel boundaries, shall be filed by the county legislative body with the county clerk, the county director of real property tax services, and the commissioner. For all existing agricultural districts, the county clerk shall also file with the commissioner upon request the tax map identification numbers for tax parcels within those districts. The commissioner, on petition of the county legislative body, may, for good cause shown, approve the correction of any errors in materials filed pursuant to a district creation at any time subsequent to the creation of any agricultural district.
8. A land owner may, at any time, submit a proposal to the county legislative body for inclusion of viable agricultural land within a certified agricultural district prior to the county established review period. Such proposal shall be submitted in such manner and form as may be prescribed by the commissioner, shall include a description of the proposed land to be included. Such proposal for inclusion of viable agricultural land within a certified agricultural district shall be subject to the notice and review process established by subdivisions two, three, four, paragraph b of subdivision five and paragraph b of subdivision six of this section.
§ 303-a. Agricultural districts; review
1. The county legislative body shall review any district created under this section eight, twelve or twenty years after the date of its creation, consistent with the review period set forth in the plan creating such district and at the end of every eight, twelve or twenty year period thereafter, whichever may apply. In counties with multiple districts with review dates in any twelve month period, the commissioner, on petition of the county legislative body, may, for good cause shown, approve an extension of up to four years for a district review. Thereafter, the extended review date shall be deemed the creation date for purposes of subsequent reviews by the county legislative body in accordance with this section. The review date of a district may not be extended more than four years. The petition of the county legislative body for an extension shall be submitted to the commissioner at least six months prior to the review date.
2. In conducting a district review the county legislative body shall:
a. provide notice of such district review by publishing a notice in a newspaper having general circulation within the district and by posting such notice in at least five conspicuous places within the district. The notice shall identify the municipalities in which the district is found and the district's total area; indicate that a map of the district will be on file and open to public inspection in the office of the county clerk and such other places as the legislative body deems appropriate; and notify municipalities and land owners within the district that they may propose a modification of the district by filing such proposal with the county clerk of the county legislature within thirty days after the publication of such notice;
b. direct the county agricultural and farmland protection board to prepare a report concerning the following:
(1) the nature of farming and farm resources within such district;
(2) the overall status of farming, the farm economy and farm investment in such district as evidenced by information provided by farmers on forms as may be prescribed by the commissioner, and other available data;
(3) the extent to which the number of farms and farm acres in such district furthers the purposes for which such district was originally created;
(4) the extent to which the district has achieved its original objectives;
(5) any county agricultural and farmland protection planning or implementation efforts pursuant to article twenty-five-AAA of this chapter; and
(6) recommendations to continue, terminate or modify such district.
c. direct the county planning board to prepare a report concerning the following:
(1) the effect of such district on county and local comprehensive plans, policies and objectives;
(2) the impacts of nonagricultural development in such district;
(3) the degree of coordination between local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations that apply to farm operations in such district and their influence on farming; and
(4) recommendations to continue, terminate or modify such district.
d. hold a public hearing at least one hundred twenty days prior to the district review date and not more than one hundred eighty days prior to such date, in the following manner:
(1) the hearing shall be held at a place within the district or otherwise readily accessible to the proposed district;
(2) a notice of public hearing shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation within the district and shall be given in writing to those municipalities whose territories encompass the district and any proposed modifications to the district; to persons, as listed on the most recent assessment roll, whose land is the subject of a proposed modification; and to the commissioner;
(3) the notice of hearing shall contain the following information:
(a) a statement of the time, date and place of the public hearing; and
(b) a description of the district, any proposed modifications and any recommendations of the county planning board or county agricultural and farmland protection board.
3. The county legislative body, after receiving the reports and recommendations of the county agricultural and farmland protection board and the county planning board, and after public hearing, shall make a finding whether the district should be continued, terminated or modified. If the county legislative body finds that the district should be terminated, it may do so at the end of such eight, twelve or twenty year period, whichever may be applicable, by filing a notice of termination with the county clerk and the commissioner. If the county legislative body finds that the district should be continued or modified, it shall submit a district review plan to the commissioner. The district review plan shall include a description of the district, including a map delineating the exterior boundaries of the district which shall conform to tax parcel boundaries; the tax map identification numbers for every parcel in the district; copies of the reports of the county planning board and the county agricultural and farmland protection board required by paragraphs c and d of subdivision two of this section; and a copy of the testimony given at the public hearing required by subdivision two of this section or a copy of the minutes of such hearing.
4. If the county legislative body does not act, or if a modification of a district is rejected by the county legislative body, the district shall continue as originally constituted, unless the commissioner, after consultation with the advisory council on agriculture, terminates such district, by filing a notice thereof with the county clerk, because:
a. the area in the district is no longer predominantly viable agricultural land; or
b. the commissioner of environmental conservation has determined that the continuation of the district would not be consistent with state environmental plans, policies and objectives; provided, however, that if the commissioner certifies to the county legislative body that he or she will not approve the continuance of the district unless modified, the commissioner shall grant the county an extension as provided in subdivision one of this section to allow the county to prepare a modification of the district in the manner provided in this section.
5. Plan review, certification and filing shall be conducted in the same manner prescribed for district creation in subdivisions five, six and seven of section three hundred three of this article.
§ 304. Unique and irreplaceable agricultural lands; creation of districts
1. The commissioner, after consulting with the advisory council on agriculture, may create agricultural districts covering any land in units of two thousand or more acres not already districted under section three hundred three of this article, if (a) the land encompassed in a proposed district is predominantly unique and irreplaceable agriculture land; (b) the commissioner of environmental conservation has determined that such district would further state environmental plans, policies and objectives; and (c) the director of the division of the budget has given approval of the establishment of such area.
2. Prior to creating an agricultural district under this section, the commissioner of agriculture and markets shall work closely, consult and cooperate with local elected officials, planning bodies, agriculture and agribusiness interests, community leaders, and other interested groups. The commissioner shall give primary consideration to local needs and desires, including local zoning and planning regulations as well as regional and local comprehensive land use plans. The commissioner shall file a map of the proposed district in the office of the clerk of any municipality in which the proposed district is to be located, and shall provide a copy thereof to the chief executive officer of any such municipality and the presiding officer of the local governing body, and, upon request, to any other person. The commissioner shall publish a notice of the filing of such proposed map and the availability of copies thereof in a newspaper of general circulation within the area of the proposed district, which notice shall also state that a public hearing will be held to consider the proposed district at a specified time and at a specified place either within the proposed district or easily accessible to the proposed district on a date not less than thirty days after such publication. In addition, the commissioner shall give notice, in writing, of such public hearing to persons owning land within the proposed district. The commissioner shall conduct a public hearing pursuant to such notice, and, in addition, any person shall have the opportunity to present written comments on the proposed district within thirty days after the public hearing. After due consideration of such local needs and desires, including such testimony and comments, if any, the commissioner may affirm, modify or withdraw the proposed district. Provided, however, that if the commissioner modifies the proposal to include any land not included in the proposal as it read when the public hearing was held, the commissioner shall hold another public hearing, on the same type of published and written notice, and with the same opportunity for presentation of written comments after the hearing. Then the commissioner may affirm, modify or withdraw the proposed district, but may not modify it to include land not included in the proposal upon which the second hearing was held.
3. Upon such affirmation or modification, a map of the district shall be filed by the commissioner of agriculture and markets with the county clerk of each county in which the district or a portion thereof is located, and publication of such filing shall be made in a newspaper of general circulation within the district to be created. The creation of the district shall become effective thirty days after such filing and publication.
4. The commissioner shall review any district created under this section, in consultation with the advisory council on agriculture, the commissioner of environmental conservation and the director of the division of the budget, eight, twelve or twenty years after the date of its creation, consistent with the review period set forth in the plan creating such district or every eight years if the district was adopted prior to August first, nineteen hundred eighty-three, and every eight, twelve or twenty year period thereafter, whichever may be applicable. Each such review shall include consultation with local elected officials, planning bodies, agricultural and agribusiness interests, community leaders, county agricultural and farmland protection boards, and other interested groups, and shall also include a public hearing at a specified time and at a specified place either within the district or easily accessible to the proposed district, notice of such hearing to be published in a newspaper having general circulation within the district. In addition, the commissioner shall give notice, in writing, of such public hearing to persons owning land in the district. After any such review, the commissioner may modify such district so as to exclude land which is no longer predominantly unique and irreplaceable agricultural land or to include additional such land, provided: (a) such modification would serve the public interest by assisting in maintaining a viable agricultural industry within the district and the state; (b) the commissioner of environmental conservation has determined that such modification would further state environmental plans, policies and objectives; and (c) such modification has been approved by the director of the division of the budget; provided, further, that if the commissioner modifies the district to include additional land, he or she shall hold another public hearing, on the same type of published and written notice. Then the commissioner may again modify or dissolve the district, but may not modify it to include land not included in the proposed modifications upon which the second hearing was held. After any such review the commissioner, after consultation with the advisory council on agriculture, shall dissolve any such district if (a) the land within the district is no longer predominantly unique and irreplaceable agricultural land, or (b) the commissioner of environmental conservation has determined that the continuation of the district would not further state environmental plans, policies and objectives. A modification or dissolution of a district shall become effective in the same manner as is provided for in subdivision three of this section, except that in the case of dissolution, a notice of dissolution shall be filed instead of a map.
§ 304-a. Agricultural assessment values
1. Agricultural assessment values shall be calculated and certified annually in accordance with the provisions of this section.
2. a. The commissioner of agriculture and markets shall establish and maintain an agricultural land classification system based upon soil productivity and capability. The agricultural land classification system shall distinguish between mineral and organic soils. There shall be ten primary groups of mineral soils and such other subgroups as the commissioner determines necessary to represent high-lime and low-lime content. There shall be four groups of organic soils.
b. The land classification system shall be promulgated by rule by the commissioner following a review of comments and recommendations of the advisory council on agriculture and after a public hearing. In making any revisions to the land classification system the commissioner may, in his or her discretion, conduct a public hearing. The commissioner shall foster participation by county agricultural and farmland protection boards, district soil and water conservation committees, and the cooperative extension service and consult with other state agencies, appropriate federal agencies, municipalities, the New York state college of agriculture and life sciences at Cornell university and farm organizations.
c. The commissioner shall certify to the state board of real property services the soil list developed in accordance with the land classification system and any revisions thereto.
d. The commissioner shall prepare such materials as may be needed for the utilization of the land classification system and provide assistance to landowners and local officials in its use.
3. a. The state board of real property services shall annually calculate a single agricultural assessment value for each of the mineral and organic soil groups which shall be applied uniformly throughout the state. A base agricultural assessment value shall be separately calculated for mineral and organic soil groups in accordance with the procedure set forth in subdivision four of this section and shall be assigned as the agricultural assessment value of the highest grade mineral and organic soil group.
b. The agricultural assessment values for the remaining mineral soil groups shall be the product of the base agricultural assessment value and a percentage, derived from the productivity measurements determined for each soil and related soil group in conjunction with the land classification system, as follows:
Mineral Soil Group % of Bse Agricultural Assessment Value
c. The agricultural assessment values for the remaining organic soil groups shall be the product of the base agricultural assessment value and a percentage, as follows:
Organic Soil Group % of Base Agricultural Assessment Value
d. The agricultural assessment value for organic soil group A shall be two times the base agricultural assessment value calculated for mineral soil group 1A.
e. The agricultural assessment value for farm woodland shall be the same as that calculated for mineral soil group seven.
f. Where trees or vines used for the production of fruit are located on land used in agricultural production, the value of such trees and vines, and the value of all posts, wires and trellises used for the production of fruit, shall be considered to be part of the agricultural assessment value of such land.
g. The agricultural assessment value for land and waters used in aquacultural enterprises shall be the same as that calculated for mineral soil group 1A.
4. a. The base agricultural assessment value shall be the average capitalized value of production per acre for the eight year period ending in the second year preceding the year for which the agricultural assessment values are certified. The capitalized value of production per acre shall be calculated by dividing the product of the value of production per acre and the percentage of net profit by a capitalization rate of ten percent, representing an assumed investment return rate of eight percent and an assumed real property tax rate of two percent.
b. The value of production per acre shall be the value of production divided by the number of acres harvested in New York state.
c. The percentage of net profit shall be adjusted net farm income divided by realized gross farm income.
(i) Adjusted net farm income shall be the sum of net farm income, taxes on farm real estate and the amount of mortgage interest debt attributable to farmland, less a management charge of one percent of realized gross farm income plus seven percent of adjusted production expenses.
(ii) The amount of mortgage interest debt attributable to farmland shall be the product of the interest on mortgage debt and the percentage of farm real estate value attributable to land.
(iii) The percentage of farm real estate value attributable to land shall be the difference between farm real estate value and farm structure value divided by farm real estate value.
(iv) Adjusted production expenses shall be production expenses, less the sum of the taxes on farm real estate and the interest on mortgage debt.
d. The following data, required for calculations pursuant to this subdivision, shall be as published by the United States department of agriculture for all farming in New York state:
(i) Farm real estate value shall be the total value of farmland and buildings, including improvements.
(ii) Farm structure value shall be the total value of farm buildings, including improvements.
(iii) Interest on mortgage debt shall be the total interest paid on farm real estate debt.
(iv) Net farm income shall be realized gross income less production expenses, as adjusted for change in inventory.
(v) Production expenses shall be the total cost of production.
(vi) Realized gross income shall be the total of cash receipts from farm marketings, government payments, nonmoney income and other farm income.
(vii) Taxes on farm real estate shall be the total real property taxes on farmland and buildings, including improvements.
(viii) Number of acres harvested including all reported crops.
(ix) Value of production shall be the total estimated value of all reported crops.
e. In the event that the data required for calculation pursuant to this subdivision is not published by the United States department of agriculture or is incomplete, such required data shall be obtained from the New York state department of agriculture and markets.
f. Upon completion of the calculation of agricultural assessment values, the state board of real property services shall publish an annual report, which shall include a schedule of values, citations to data sources and presentation of all calculations. The state board of real property services shall transmit copies of the annual report to the governor and legislature, the advisory council on agriculture and other appropriate state agencies and interested parties. The state board of real property services shall thereupon certify the schedule of agricultural assessment values and the state board of real property services shall transmit a schedule of such certified values to each assessor.
5. a. In carrying out their responsibilities under this section, the state board of real property services and the commissioner shall keep the advisory council on agriculture fully apprised on matters relating to its duties and responsibilities.
b. In doing so, the state board of real property services and the commissioner shall provide, in a timely manner, any materials needed by the advisory council on agriculture to carry out its responsibilities under this section.
§ 304-b. Agricultural district data collection
1. The commissioner shall develop and maintain, within funds made available for such purposes, information on agricultural districts and lands outside districts and receiving an agricultural assessment to assist in the agricultural districts program administration and to evaluate the environmental and economic effects of the program.
2. Counties containing agricultural districts or lands outside districts and receiving an agricultural assessment may develop and maintain, in coordination with the department of agriculture and markets, information concerning districts and agricultural assessments in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. Owners or operators of land used in agricultural production within agricultural districts or outside districts and receiving an agricultural assessment shall provide the county with information about their property, including, but not limited to, total acres, number of acres of cropland, number of acres by land classification, if available, principal products, and approximate annual gross sales. The county shall provide to the commissioner at the time of district creation and review information given to the county by land owners or operators pursuant to this subdivision.
3. Financial information about farm enterprises received by the county or the commissioner pursuant to this section shall be exempt from disclosure as provided for in subdivision two of section eighty-seven of the public officers law. Such information may be disclosed only as aggregate statistical data on farms or districts as a whole, except where the commissioner determines that disclosure is necessary for the effective administration of this article or to otherwise comply with applicable state or federal law.
4. The commissioner shall file a written report with the governor and the legislature biennially beginning January first, nineteen hundred ninety-four concerning the status of the agricultural districts database and agricultural districts program. Such a report shall include, but not be limited to, information included in subdivision two of this section. The report shall also include information pertaining to the conversions of lands from agriculture to non-agricultural uses and conversion penalties assessed, a list of the counties that have established county agricultural and farmland protection plans, a summary of the agricultural protection planning grants program and other relevant physical and economic information pertaining to lands that are receiving an agricultural assessment pursuant to section three hundred five or three hundred six of this article.
§ 305. Agricultural districts; effects
1. Agricultural assessments. a. Any owner of land used in agricultural production within an agricultural district shall be eligible for an agricultural assessment pursuant to this section. If an applicant rents land from another for use in conjunction with the applicant's land for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products, the gross sales value of such products produced on such rented land shall be added to the gross sales value of such products produced on the land of the applicant for purposes of determining eligibility for an agricultural assessment on the land of the applicant. Such assessment shall be granted only upon an annual application by the owner of such land on a form prescribed by the state board of real property services. The applicant shall furnish to the assessor such information as the state board of real property services shall require, including classification information prepared for the applicant's land or water bodies used in agricultural production by the soil and water conservation district office within the county, and information demonstrating the eligibility for agricultural assessment of any land used in conjunction with rented land as specified in paragraph b of subdivision four of section three hundred one of this article. Such application shall be filed with the assessor of the assessing unit on or before the appropriate taxable status date; provided, however, that in the year of a revaluation or update of assessments, as those terms are defined in section one hundred two of the real property tax law, the application may be filed with the assessor no later than the thirtieth day prior to the day by which the tentative assessment roll is required to be filed by law. If the assessor is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to an agricultural assessment, the assessor shall approve the application and the land shall be assessed pursuant to this section. Not less than ten days prior to the date for hearing complaints in relation to assessments, the assessor shall mail to each applicant, who has included with the application at least one self-addressed, pre-paid envelope, a notice of the approval or denial of the application. Such notice shall be on a form prescribed by the state board of real property services which shall indicate the manner in which the total assessed value is apportioned among the various portions of the property subject to agricultural assessment and those other portions of the property not eligible for agricultural assessment as determined for the tentative assessment roll and the latest final assessment roll. Failure to mail any such notice or failure of the owner to receive the same shall not prevent the levy, collection and enforcement of the payment of the taxes on such real property.
b. That portion of the value of land utilized for agricultural production within an agricultural district which represents an excess above the agricultural assessment as determined in accordance with this subdivision shall not be subject to real property taxation. Such excess amount if any shall be entered on the assessment roll in the manner prescribed by the state board of real property services.
c. (i) The assessor shall utilize the agricultural assessment values per acre certified pursuant to section three hundred four-a of this article in determining the amount of the assessment of lands eligible for agricultural assessments by multiplying those values by the number of acres of land utilized for agricultural production and adjusting such result by application of the latest state equalization rate or a special equalization rate as may be established and certified by the state board of real property services for the purpose of computing the agricultural assessment pursuant to this paragraph. This resulting amount shall be the agricultural assessment for such lands.
(ii) Where the latest state equalization rate exceeds one hundred, or where a special equalization rate which would otherwise be established for the purposes of this section would exceed one hundred, a special equalization rate of one hundred shall be established and certified by the state board for the purpose of this section.
(iii) Where a special equalization rate has been established and certified by the state board for the purposes of this paragraph, the assessor is directed and authorized to recompute the agricultural assessment on the assessment roll by applying such special equalization rate instead of the latest state equalization rate, and to make the appropriate corrections on the assessment roll, subject to the provisions of title two of article twelve of the real property tax law.
d. (i) If land within an agricultural district which received an agricultural assessment is converted parcels, as described on the assessment roll which include land so converted shall be subject to payments equalling five times the taxes saved in the last year in which the land benefited from an agricultural assessment, plus interest of six percent per year compounded annually for each year in which an agricultural assessment was granted, not exceeding five years. The amount of taxes saved for the last year in which the land benefited from an agricultural assessment shall be determined by applying the applicable tax rates to the excess amount of assessed valuation of such land over its agricultural assessment as set forth on the last assessment roll which indicates such an excess. If only a portion of a parcel as described on the assessment roll is converted, the assessor shall apportion the assessment and agricultural assessment attributable to the converted portion, as determined for the last assessment roll for which the assessment of such portion exceeded its agricultural assessment. The difference between the apportioned assessment and the apportioned agricultural assessment shall be the amount upon which payments shall be determined. Payments shall be added by or on behalf of each taxing jurisdiction to the taxes levied on the assessment roll prepared on the basis of the first taxable status date on which the assessor considers the land to have been converted; provided, however, that no payments shall be imposed if the last assessment roll upon which the property benefited from an agricultural assessment, was more than five years prior to the year for which the assessment roll upon which payments would otherwise be levied is prepared.
(ii) Whenever a conversion occurs, the owner shall notify the assessor within ninety days of the date such conversion is commenced. If the landowner fails to make such notification within the ninety day period, the assessing unit, by majority vote of the governing body, may impose a penalty on behalf of the assessing unit of up to two times the total payments owed, but not to exceed a maximum total penalty of five hundred dollars in addition to any payments owed.
(iii)(a) An assessor who determines that there is liability for payments and any penalties assessed pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph shall notify the landowner by mail of such liability at least ten days prior to the date for hearing complaints in relation to assessments. Such notice shall indicate the property to which payments apply and describe how the payments shall be determined. Failure to provide such notice shall not affect the levy, collection or enforcement or payment of payments.
(b) Liability for payments shall be subject to administrative and judicial review as provided by law for review of assessments.
(iv) If such land or any portion thereof is converted to a use other than for agricultural production by virtue of oil or gas exploration, development, or extraction activity or by virtue of a taking by eminent domain or other involuntary proceeding other than a tax sale, the land or portion so converted shall not be subject to payments. If the land so converted constitutes only a portion of a parcel described on the assessment roll, the assessor shall apportion the assessment, and adjust the agricultural assessment attributable to the portion of the parcel not subject to such conversion by subtracting the proportionate part of the agricultural assessment attributable to the portion so converted. Provided further that land within an agricultural district and eligible for an agricultural assessment shall not be considered to have been converted to a use other than for agricultural production solely due to the conveyance of oil and gas rights associated with that land.
(v) An assessor who imposes any such payments shall annually, and within forty-five days following the date on which the final assessment roll is required to be filed, report such payments to the state board of real property services on a form prescribed by the state board.
(vi) The assessing unit, by majority vote of the governing body, may impose a minimum payment amount, not to exceed one hundred dollars.
(vii) The purchase of land in fee by the city of New York for watershed protection purposes or the conveyance of a conservation easement by the city of New York to the department of environmental conservation which prohibits future use of the land for agricultural purposes shall not be a conversion of parcels and no payment shall be due under this section.
e. In connection with any district created under section three hundred four of this article, the state shall provide assistance to each taxing jurisdiction in an amount equal to one-half of the tax loss that results from requests for agricultural assessments in the district. The amount of such tax loss shall be computed annually by applying the applicable tax rate to an amount computed by subtracting the agricultural assessment from the assessed value of the property on the assessment roll completed and filed prior to July first, nineteen hundred seventy-one, taking into consideration any change in the level of assessment. The chief fiscal officer of a taxing jurisdiction entitled to state assistance under this article shall make application for such assistance to the state board of real property services on a form approved by such board and containing such information as the board shall require. Upon approval of the application by such board, such assistance shall be apportioned and paid to such taxing jurisdiction on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller out of moneys appropriated by the legislature for the purpose of this article; provided, however, that any such assistance payment shall be reduced by one- half the amount of any payments levied under subparagraph (i) of paragraph d of this subdivision, for land in any district created under section three hundred four of this article, unless one-half the amount of such payments has already been used to reduce a previous assistance payment under this paragraph.
f. Notwithstanding any inconsistent general, special or local law to the contrary, if a natural disaster, act of God, or continued adverse weather conditions shall destroy the agricultural production and such fact is certified by the cooperative extension service and, as a result, such production does not produce an average gross sales value of ten thousand dollars or more, the owner may nevertheless qualify for an agricultural assessment provided the owner shall substantiate in such manner as prescribed by the state board of real property services that the agricultural production initiated on such land would have produced an average gross sales value of ten thousand dollars or more but for the natural disaster, act of God or continued adverse weather conditions.
[2. Repealed by L.1997, c. 357, § 9.]
3. Policy of state agencies. It shall be the policy of all state agencies to encourage the maintenance of viable farming in agricultural districts and their administrative regulations and procedures shall be modified to this end insofar as is consistent with the promotion of public health and safety and with the provisions of any federal statutes, standards, criteria, rules, regulations, or policies, and any other requirements of federal agencies, including provisions applicable only to obtaining federal grants, loans, or other funding.
4. Limitation on the exercise of eminent domain and other public acquisitions, and on the advance of public funds. a. Any agency of the state, any public benefit corporation or any local government which intends to acquire land or any interest therein, provided that the acquisition from any one actively operated farm within the district would be in excess of one acre or that the total acquisition within the district would be in excess of ten acres, or which intends to construct, or advance a grant, loan, interest subsidy or other funds within a district to construct, dwellings, commercial or industrial facilities, or water or sewer facilities to serve non-farm structures, shall use all practicable means in undertaking such action to realize the policy and goals set forth in this article, and shall act and choose alternatives which, consistent with social, economic and other essential considerations, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize or avoid adverse impacts on agriculture in order to sustain a viable farm enterprise or enterprises within the district. The adverse agricultural impacts to be minimized or avoided shall include impacts revealed in the notice of intent process described in this subdivision.
b. As early as possible in the development of a proposal of an action described in paragraph a of this subdivision, but in no event later than the date of any determination as to whether an environmental impact statement need be prepared pursuant to article eight of the environmental conservation law, the agency, corporation or government proposing an action described in paragraph a of this subdivision shall file a preliminary notice of its intent with the commissioner and the county agricultural and farmland protection board in such manner and form as the commissioner may require. Such preliminary notice shall include the following:
(i) a brief description of the proposed action and its agricultural setting;
(ii) a summary of any anticipated adverse impacts on farm operations and agricultural resources within the district; and
(iii) such other information as the commissioner may require.
c. The agency, corporation or government proposing the action shall also, at least sixty-five days prior to such acquisition, construction or advance of public funds, file a final notice of intent with the commissioner and the county agricultural and farmland protection board. Such final notice shall include a detailed agricultural impact statement setting forth the following:
(i) a detailed description of the proposed action and its agricultural setting;
(ii) the agricultural impact of the proposed action including short-term and long-term effects;
(iii) any adverse agricultural effects which cannot be avoided should the proposed action be implemented;
(iv) alternatives to the proposed action;
(v) any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of agricultural resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented;
(vi) mitigation measures proposed to minimize the adverse impact of the proposed action on the continuing viability of a farm enterprise or enterprises within the district;
(vii) any aspects of the proposed action which would encourage non-farm development, where applicable and appropriate; and
The commissioner shall promptly determine whether the final notice is complete or incomplete. If the commissioner does not issue such determination within thirty days, the final notice shall be deemed complete. If the final notice is determined to be incomplete, the commissioner shall notify the party proposing the action in writing of the reasons for that determination. Any new submission shall commence a new period for department review for purposes of determining completeness.
d. The provisions of paragraphs b and c of this subdivision shall not apply and shall be deemed waived by the owner of the land to be acquired where such owner signs a document to such effect and provides a copy to the commissioner.
e. Upon notice from the commissioner that he or she has accepted a final notice as complete, the county agricultural and farmland protection board may, within thirty days, review the proposed action and its effects on farm operations and agricultural resources within the district, and report its findings and recommendations to the commissioner and to the party proposing the action in the case of actions proposed by a state agency or public benefit corporation, and additionally to the county legislature in the case of actions proposed by local government agencies.
f. Upon receipt and acceptance of a final notice, the commissioner shall thereupon forward a copy of such notice to the commissioner of environmental conservation and the advisory council on agriculture. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of environmental conservation and the advisory council on agriculture, within forty-five days of the acceptance of a final notice, shall review the proposed action and make an initial determination whether such action would have an unreasonably adverse effect on the continuing viability of a farm enterprise or enterprises within the district, or state environmental plans, policies and objectives.
If the commissioner so determines, he or she may (i) issue an order within the forty-five day period directing the state agency, public benefit corporation or local government not to take such action for an additional period of sixty days immediately following such forty-five day period; and (ii) review the proposed action to determine whether any reasonable and practicable alternative or alternatives exist which would minimize or avoid the adverse impact on agriculture in order to sustain a viable farm enterprise or enterprises within the district.
The commissioner may hold a public hearing concerning such proposed action at a place within the district or otherwise easily accessible to the district upon notice in a newspaper having a general circulation within the district, and individual notice, in writing, to the municipalities whose territories encompass the district, the commissioner of environmental conservation, the advisory council on agriculture and the state agency, public benefit corporation or local government proposing to take such action. On or before the conclusion of such additional sixty day period, the commissioner shall report his or her findings to the agency, corporation or government proposing to take such action, to any public agency having the power of review of or approval of such action, and, in a manner conducive to the wide dissemination of such findings, to the public. If the commissioner concludes that a reasonable and practicable alternative or alternatives exist which would minimize or avoid the adverse impact of the proposed action, he or she shall propose that such alternative or alternatives be accepted. If the agency, corporation or government proposing the action accepts the commissioner's proposal, then the requirements of the notice of intent filing shall be deemed fulfilled. If the agency, corporation or government rejects the commissioner's proposal, then it shall provide the commissioner with reasons for rejecting such proposal and a detailed comparison between its proposed action and the commissioner's alternative or alternatives.
g. At least ten days before commencing an action which has been the subject of a notice of intent filing, the agency, corporation or government shall certify to the commissioner that it has made an explicit finding that the requirements of this subdivision have been met, and that consistent with social, economic and other essential considerations, to the maximum extent practicable, adverse agricultural impacts revealed in the notice of intent process will be minimized or avoided. Such certification shall set forth the reasons in support of the finding.
h. The commissioner may request the attorney general to bring an action to enjoin any such agency, corporation or government from violating any of the provisions of this subdivision.
h-1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no solid waste management facility shall be sited on land in agricultural production which is located within an agricultural district, or land in agricultural production that qualifies for and is receiving an agricultural assessment pursuant to section three hundred six of this article. Nothing contained herein, however, shall be deemed to prohibit siting when:
(i) The owner of such land has entered into a written agreement which shall indicate his consent for site consideration; or
(ii) The applicant for a permit has made a commitment in the permit application to fund a farm land protection conservation easement within a reasonable proximity to the proposed project in an amount not less than the dollar value of any such farm land purchased for the project; or
(iii) The commissioner in concurrence with the commissioner of environmental conservation has determined that any such agricultural land to be taken, constitutes less than five percent of the project site.
For purposes of this paragraph, "solid waste management facility" shall have the same meaning as provided in title seven of article twenty-seven of the environmental conservation law, but shall not include solid waste transfer stations or land upon which sewage sludge is applied, and determinations regarding agricultural district boundaries and agricultural assessments will be based on those in effect as of the date an initial determination is made, pursuant to article eight of the environmental conservation law, as to whether an environmental impact statement needs to be prepared for the proposed project.
i. This subdivision shall not apply to any emergency project which is immediately necessary for the protection of life or property or to any project or proceeding to which the department is or has been a statutory party.
j. The commissioner may bring an action to enforce any mitigation measures proposed by a public benefit corporation or a local government, and accepted by the commissioner, pursuant to a notice of intent filing, to minimize or avoid adverse agricultural impacts from the proposed action.
5. Limitation on power to impose benefit assessments, special ad valorem levies or other rates or fees in certain improvement districts or benefit areas. Within improvement districts or areas deemed benefited by municipal improvements including, but not limited to, improvements for sewer, water, lighting, non-farm drainage, solid waste disposal, including those solid waste management facilities established pursuant to section two hundred twenty-six-b of the county law, or other landfill operations, no benefit assessments, special ad valorem levies or other rates or fees charged for such improvements may be imposed on land used primarily for agricultural production within an agricultural district on any basis, except a lot not exceeding one-half acre surrounding any dwelling or non-farm structure located on said land, nor on any farm structure located in an agricultural district unless such structure benefits directly from the service of such improvement district or benefited area; provided, however, that if such benefit assessments, ad valorem levies or other rates or fees were imposed prior to the formation of the agricultural district, then such benefit assessments, ad valorem levies or other rates or fees shall continue to be imposed on such land or farm structure.
6. Use of assessment for certain purposes. The governing body of a fire, fire protection, or ambulance district for which a benefit assessment or a special ad valorem levy is made, may adopt a resolution to provide that the assessment determined pursuant to subdivision one of this section for such property shall be used for the benefit assessment or special ad valorem levy of such fire, fire protection, or ambulance district.
7. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, that portion of the value of land which is used solely for the purpose of replanting or crop expansion as part of an orchard or vineyard shall be exempt from real property taxation for a period not to exceed four successive years following the date of such replanting or crop expansion beginning on the first eligible taxable status date following such replanting or expansion provided the following conditions are met:
a. the land used for crop expansion or replanting must be a part of an existing orchard or vineyard which is located on land used in agricultural production within an agricultural district or such land must be part of an existing orchard or vineyard which is eligible for an agricultural assessment pursuant to this section or section three hundred six of this chapter where the owner of such land has filed an annual application for an agricultural assessment;
b. the land eligible for such real property tax exemption shall not in any one year exceed twenty percent of the total acreage of such orchard or vineyard which is located on land used in agricultural production within an agricultural district or twenty percent of the total acreage of such orchard or vineyard eligible for an agricultural assessment pursuant to this section and section three hundred six of this chapter where the owner of such land has filed an annual application for an agricultural assessment;
c. the land eligible for such real property tax exemption must be maintained as land used in agricultural production as part of such orchard or vineyard for each year such exemption is granted; and
d. when the land used for the purpose of replanting or crop expansion as part of an orchard or vineyard is located within an area which has been declared by the governor to be a disaster emergency in a year in which such tax exemption is sought and in a year in which such land meets all other eligibility requirements for such tax exemption set forth in this subdivision, the maximum twenty percent total acreage restriction set forth in paragraph b of this subdivision may be exceeded for such year and for any remaining successive years, provided, however, that the land eligible for such real property tax exemption shall not exceed the total acreage damaged or destroyed by such disaster in such year or the total acreage which remains damaged or destroyed in any remaining successive year. The total acreage for which such exemption is sought pursuant to this paragraph shall be subject to verification by the commissioner or his designee.
§ 305-a. Coordination of local planning and land use decision-making with the agricultural districts program
1. Policy of local governments. a. Local governments, when exercising their powers to enact and administer comprehensive plans and local laws, ordinances, rules or regulations, shall exercise these powers in such manner as may realize the policy and goals set forth in this article, and shall not unreasonably restrict or regulate farm operations within agricultural districts in contravention of the purposes of this article unless it can be shown that the public health or safety is threatened.
b. The commissioner, upon his or her own initiative or upon the receipt of a complaint from a person within an agricultural district, may bring an action to enforce the provisions of this subdivision.
2. Agricultural data statement; submission, evaluation. Any application for a special use permit, site plan approval, use variance, or subdivision approval requiring municipal review and approval by a planning board, zoning board of appeals, town board, or village board of trustees pursuant to article sixteen of the town law or article seven of the village law, that would occur on property within an agricultural district containing a farm operation or on property with boundaries within five hundred feet of a farm operation located in an agricultural district, shall include an agricultural data statement. The planning board, zoning board of appeals, town board, or village board of trustees shall evaluate and consider the agricultural data statement in its review of the possible impacts of the proposed project upon the functioning of farm operations within such agricultural district. The information required by an agricultural data statement may be included as part of any other application form required by local law, ordinance or regulation.
3. Agricultural data statement; notice provision. Upon the receipt of such application by the planning board, zoning board of appeals, town board or village board of trustees, the clerk of such board shall mail written notice of such application to the owners of land as identified by the applicant in the agricultural data statement. Such notice shall include a description of the proposed project and its location, and may be sent in conjunction with any other notice required by state or local law, ordinance, rule or regulation for the said project. The cost of mailing said notice shall be borne by the applicant.
4. Agricultural data statement; content. An agricultural data statement shall include the following information: the name and address of the applicant; a description of the proposed project and its location; the name and address of any owner of land within the agricultural district, which land contains farm operations and is located within five hundred feet of the boundary of the property upon which the project is proposed; and a tax map or other map showing the site of the proposed project relative to the location of farm operations identified in the agricultural data statement.
§ 306. Agricultural lands outside of districts; agricultural assessments
1. Any owner of land used in agricultural production outside of an agricultural district shall be eligible for an agricultural assessment as provided herein. If an applicant rents land from another for use in conjunction with the applicant's land for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products, the gross sales value of such products on such rented land shall be added to the gross sales value of such products produced on the land of the applicant for purposes of determining eligibility for an agricultural assessment on the land of the applicant.
Such assessment shall be granted pursuant to paragraphs a, b and f of subdivision one of section three hundred five of this article as if such land were in an agricultural district, provided the landowner annually submits to the assessor an application for an agricultural assessment on or before the taxable status date. In the year of a revaluation or update of assessments, as those terms are defined in section one hundred two of the real property tax law, the application may be filed with the assessor no later than the thirtieth day prior to the day by which the tentative assessment roll is required to be filed by law. Nothing therein shall be construed to limit an applicant's discretion to withhold from such application any land, or portion thereof, contained within a single operation.
2. a. (i) If land which received an agricultural assessment pursuant to this section is converted at any time within eight years from the time an agricultural assessment was last received, such conversion shall subject the land so converted to payments in compensation for the prior benefits of agricultural assessments. The amount of the payments shall be equal to five times the taxes saved in the last year in which land benefited from an agricultural assessment, plus interest of six percent per year compounded annually for each year in which an agricultural assessment was granted, not exceeding five years.
(ii) The amount of taxes saved for the last year in which the land benefited from an agricultural assessment shall be determined by applying the applicable tax rates to the amount of assessed valuation of such land in excess of the agricultural assessment of such land as set forth on the last assessment roll which indicates such an excess. If only a portion of such land as described on the assessment roll is converted, the assessor shall apportion the assessment and agricultural assessment attributable to the converted portion, as determined for the last assessment roll on which the assessment of such portion exceeded its agricultural assessment. The difference between the apportioned assessment and the apportioned agricultural assessment shall be the amount upon which payments shall be determined. Payments shall be levied in the same manner as other taxes, by or on behalf of each taxing jurisdiction on the assessment roll prepared on the basis of the first taxable status date on which the assessor considers the land to have been converted; provided, however, that no payments shall be imposed if the last assessment roll upon which the property benefited from an agricultural assessment, was more than eight years prior to the year for which the assessment roll upon which payments would otherwise be levied is prepared.
(iii) Whenever a conversion occurs, the owner shall notify the assessor within ninety days of the date such conversion is commenced. If the landowner fails to make such notification within the ninety day period, the assessing unit, by majority vote of the governing body, may impose a penalty on behalf of the assessing unit of up to two times the total payments owed, but not to exceed a maximum total penalty of five hundred dollars in addition to any payments owed.
b. (i) An assessor who determines that there is liability for payments and any penalties pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph shall notify the landowner of such liability at least ten days prior to the day for hearing of complaints in relation to assessments. Such notice shall specify the area subject to payments and shall describe how such payments shall be determined. Failure to provide such notice shall not affect the levy, collection, or enforcement of payments.
(ii) Liability for payments shall be subject to administrative and judicial review as provided by law for the review of assessments.
(iii) An assessor who imposes any such payments shall annually, and within forty-five days following the date on which the final assessment roll is required to be filed, report such payments to the state board of real property services on a form prescribed by the state board.
(iv) The assessing unit, by majority vote of the government body, may impose a minimum payment amount, not to exceed one hundred dollars.
c. If such land or any portion thereof is converted by virtue of oil or gas exploration, development, or extraction activity or by virtue of a taking by eminent domain or other involuntary proceeding other than a tax sale, the land or portion so converted shall not be subject to payments. If land so converted constitutes only a portion of a parcel described on the assessment roll, the assessor shall apportion the assessment, and adjust the agricultural assessment attributable to the portion of the parcel not subject to such conversion by subtracting the proportionate part of the agricultural assessment attributable to the portion so converted. Provided further that land outside an agricultural district and eligible for an agricultural assessment pursuant to this section shall not be considered to have been converted to a use other than for agricultural production solely due to the conveyance of oil and gas rights associated with that land.
d. The purchase of land in fee by the city of New York for watershed protection purposes or the conveyance of a conservation easement by the city of New York to the department of environmental conservation which prohibits future use of the land for agricultural purposes shall not be a conversion of parcels and no payment for the prior benefits of agricultural assessments shall be due under this section.
3. Upon the inclusion of such agricultural lands in an agricultural district formed pursuant to section three hundred three, the provisions of section three hundred five shall be controlling.
4. A payment levied pursuant to subparagraph (i) of paragraph a of subdivision two of this section shall be a lien on the entire parcel containing the converted land, notwithstanding that less than the entire parcel was converted.
5. Use of assessment for certain purposes. The governing body of a water, lighting, sewer, sanitation, fire, fire protection, or ambulance district for whose benefit a special assessment or a special ad valorem levy is imposed, may adopt a resolution to provide that the assessments determined pursuant to subdivision one of this section for property within the district shall be used for the special assessment or special ad valorem levy of such special district.
§ 307. Promulgation of rules and regulations
The state board of real property services and the commissioner are each empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations and to prescribe such forms as each shall deem necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article, and the commissioner is further empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to provide for the reasonable consolidation of existing agricultural districts with new agricultural districts or with other existing districts undergoing modification pursuant to section three hundred three of this article. Where a document or any other paper or information is required, by such rules and regulations, or by any provision of this article, to be filed with, or by, a county clerk or any other local official, such clerk or other local official may file such document, paper, or information as he deems proper, but he shall also file or record it in any manner directed by the state board of real property services, by rule or regulation. In promulgating such a rule or regulation, such board shall consider, among any other relevant factors, the need for security of land titles, the requirement that purchasers of land know of all potential tax and penalty liabilities, and the desirability that the searching of titles not be further complicated by the establishment of new sets of record books.
§ 308. Right to farm
1. a. The commissioner shall, in consultation with the state advisory council on agriculture, issue opinions upon request from any person as to whether particular agricultural practices are sound.
b. Sound agricultural practices refer to those practices necessary for the on- farm production, preparation and marketing of agricultural commodities. Examples of activities which entail practices the commissioner may consider include, but are not limited to, operation of farm equipment; proper use of agricultural chemicals and other crop protection methods; direct sale to consumers of agricultural commodities or foods containing agricultural commodities produced on-farm; and construction and use of farm structures. The commissioner shall consult appropriate state agencies and any guidelines recommended by the advisory council on agriculture. The commissioner may consult as appropriate, the New York state college of agriculture and life sciences and the U.S.D.A. natural resources conservation service. The commissioner shall also consider whether the agricultural practices are conducted by a farm owner or operator as part of his or her participation in the AEM program as set forth in article eleven-A of this chapter. [FN1] Such practices shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
2. Upon the issuance of an opinion pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall publish a notice in a newspaper having a general circulation in the area surrounding the practice and notice shall be given in writing to the owner of the property on which the practice is conducted and any adjoining property owners. The opinion of the commissioner shall be final, unless within thirty days after publication of the notice a person affected thereby institutes a proceeding to review the opinion in the manner provided by article seventy- eight of the civil practice law and rules.
3. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, on any land in an agricultural district created pursuant to section three hundred three or land used in agricultural production subject to an agricultural assessment pursuant to section three hundred six of this article, an agricultural practice shall not constitute a private nuisance, when an action is brought by a person, provided such agricultural practice constitutes a sound agricultural practice pursuant to an opinion issued upon request by the commissioner. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an aggrieved party from recovering damages for personal injury or wrongful death.
4. The commissioner, in consultation with the state advisory council on agriculture, shall issue an opinion within thirty days upon request from any person as to whether particular land uses are agricultural in nature. Such land use decisions shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
§ 308-a. Fees and expenses in certain private nuisance actions
a. "Action" means any civil action brought by a person in which a private nuisance is alleged to be due to an agricultural practice on any land in an agricultural district or subject to agricultural assessments pursuant to section three hundred three or three hundred six of this article, respectively.
b. "Fees and other expenses" means the reasonable expenses of expert witnesses, the reasonable cost of any study, analysis, consultation with experts, and like expenses, and reasonable attorney fees, including fees for work performed by law students or paralegals under the supervision of an attorney, incurred in connection with the defense of any cause of action for private nuisance which is alleged as part of a civil action brought by a person.
c. "Final judgment" means a judgment that is final and not appealable, and settlement.
d. "Prevailing party" means a defendant in a civil action brought by a person, in which a private nuisance is alleged to be due to an agricultural practice, where the defendant prevails in whole or in substantial part on the private nuisance cause of action.
2. Fees and other expenses in certain private nuisance actions. a. When awarded. In addition to costs, disbursements and additional allowances awarded pursuant to sections eight thousand two hundred one through eight thousand two hundred four and eight thousand three hundred one through eight thousand three hundred three-a of the civil practice law and rules, and except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a court shall award to a prevailing party, other than the plaintiff, fees and other expenses incurred by such party in connection with the defense of any cause of action for private nuisance alleged to be due to an agricultural practice, provided such agricultural practice constitutes a sound agricultural practice pursuant to an opinion issued by the commissioner under section three hundred eight of this article, prior to the start of any trial of the action or settlement of such action, unless the court finds that the position of the plaintiff was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust. Fees shall be determined pursuant to prevailing market rates for the kind and quality of the services furnished, except that fees and expenses may not be awarded to a party for any portion of the litigation in which the party has unreasonably protracted the proceedings.
b. Application for fees. A party seeking an award of fees and other expenses shall, within thirty days of final judgment in the action, submit to the court an application which sets forth (i) the facts supporting the claim that the party is a prevailing party and is eligible to receive an award under this section, (ii) the amount sought, and (iii) an itemized statement from every attorney or expert witness for which fees or expenses are sought stating the actual time expended and the rate at which such fees and other expenses are claimed.
3. Interest. If the plaintiff appeals an award made pursuant to this section and the award is affirmed in whole or in part, interest shall be paid on the amount of the award. Such interest shall run from the date of the award through the day before the date of the affirmance.
4. Applicability. a. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to alter or modify the provisions of the civil practice law and rules where applicable to actions other than actions as defined by this section.
b. Nothing contained in this section shall affect or preclude the right of any party to recover fees or other expenses authorized by common law or by any other statute, law or rule.
§ 309. Advisory council on agriculture
1. There shall be established within the department the advisory council on agriculture, to advise and make recommendations to the state agencies on state government plans, policies and programs affecting agriculture, as outlined below, and in such areas as its experience and studies may indicate to be appropriate. The department of agriculture and markets shall provide necessary secretariat and support services to the council.
2. The advisory council on agriculture shall consist of eleven members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, selected for their experience and expertise related to areas of council responsibility. At least five members of the council shall be operators of a commercial farm enterprise and at least two members shall be representatives of local governments. The balance of the council shall be comprised of representatives of business or institutions related to agriculture. Members shall be appointed for a term of three years and may serve until their successors are chosen provided, however, that of the members first appointed, three shall serve for a term of one year, three shall serve for a term of two years, and three shall serve for a term of three years. Members shall serve without salary but shall be entitled to reimbursement of their ordinary and necessary travel expenses. The members of the council shall elect a chairman.
3. The duties and responsibilities of the advisory council on agriculture as they pertain to agricultural districts shall include, but not be limited to, providing timely advice, comments and recommendations to the commissioner in regard to:
a. the establishment of agricultural districts;
b. the eight year review of agricultural districts; and
c. the establishment of and any revision to the land classification system used in connection with the determination of agricultural assessment values.
The commissioner may delegate to the council such additional duties and responsibilities as he deems necessary.
4. The duties and responsibilities of the advisory council on agriculture shall include, but not be limited to, providing timely advice, comments and recommendations to the state board of real property services in regard to the establishment of agricultural assessment values.
5. The advisory council on agriculture shall advise the commissioner and other state agency heads on state government plans, policies and programs affecting farming and the agricultural industry of this state. Concerned state agencies shall be encouraged to establish a working relationship with the council and shall fully cooperate with the council in any requests it shall make.
6. The advisory council on agriculture may ask other individuals to attend its meetings or work with it on an occasional or regular basis provided, however, that it shall invite participation by the chairman of the state soil and water conservation committee and the dean of the New York state college of agriculture and life sciences at Cornell university. The advisory council on agriculture shall set the time and place of its meetings, and shall hold at least four meetings per year.
7. The advisory council on agriculture shall file a written report to the governor and the legislature by April first each year concerning its activities during the previous year and its program expectations for the succeeding year.
8. The advisory council on agriculture shall advise the commissioner in regards to whether particular land uses are agricultural in nature.
[9. Repealed by L.1999, c. 290, § 2, eff. July 20, 1999.]
[10. Renumbered as 8 by L.1999, c. 290, § 3, eff. July 20, 1999.]
§ 310. Disclosure
1. When any purchase and sale contract is presented for the sale, purchase, or exchange of real property located partially or wholly within an agricultural district, the prospective grantor shall present to the prospective grantee a disclosure notice which states the following:
"It is the policy of this state and this community to conserve, protect and encourage the development and improvement of agricultural land for the production of food, and other products, and also for its natural and ecological value. This disclosure notice is to inform prospective residents that the property they are about to acquire lies partially or wholly within an agricultural district and that farming activities occur within the district. Such farming activities may include, but not be limited to, activities that cause noise, dust and odors. Prospective residents are also informed that the location of property within an agricultural district may impact the ability to access water and/or sewer services for such property under certain circumstances."
1-a. Such disclosure notice shall be signed by the prospective grantor and grantee prior to the sale, purchase or exchange of such real property.
2. Receipt of such disclosure notice shall be recorded on a property transfer report form prescribed by the state board of real property services as provided for in section three hundred thirty-three of the real property law.
Enacted in 1987, amended in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2002.