Open Enrollment Period for Ontario County Consolidated Agricultural District No. 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Contact:          Linda Phillips, Senior Planner, Ontario County Planning Department           585-396-4050

 Canandaigua, NY October 2, 2023 The open enrollment period for Ontario County Consolidated Agricultural District No. 1 will be November 1 to November 30, 2023. 

Landowners may propose adding land to the Ontario County Consolidated Agricultural District No. 1 by filing such request on the enrollment form available from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors or on-line at https://www.ontariocountyny.gov/1608/Annual-Ontario-County-Agricultural-Distr during the open enrollment period between November 1 and November 30, 2022,

Inclusion in a county administered, state certified agricultural district provides limitations on eminent domain, imposition of certain types of taxes or fees in certain improvement districts or benefit areas, and nuisance lawsuits for exercise of sound agricultural practices.  These limits are all intended to protect the viability of agricultural land.

A request for inclusion must include tax map identification number(s) and a description of the commercial agricultural operation and/or other activities conducted on each parcel of land proposed for inclusion.  In the case of a start-up operation, a description of the operation, and a business plan if available, should be submitted. 

Completed enrollment forms should be submitted to:

Kristin Voss, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors:

Address for mail and hand delivered submissions:

            20 Ontario Street

Canandaigua, NY  14424

Address for digital submissions:  BOS@ontariocountyny.gov

 Requests must be received or postmarked by November 30, 2023.

 At the termination of the thirty (30) day open enrollment period, the tax parcels proposed for inclusion will be submitted to the Ontario County Agricultural Enhancement Board for review and subsequent recommendations to the Ontario County Board of Supervisors.  The Board of Supervisors will make the final recommendation regarding inclusion of viable agricultural land to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.