By

TOWN OF RIVERHEAD
PUBLIC NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held before the Town Board of the Town of Riverhead at 200 Howell Avenue, Riverhead, New York on the 5th day of May, 2015 at 2:10 o’clock p.m. to consider a local law for the addition of a new chapter entitled “Agricultural Advisory Committee” of the Riverhead Town Code as follows:

Chapter 2
AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

2-1.  Purpose.

The purpose of this Agricultural Advisory Committee is to:

A. Recognize the importance of agriculture as both a vital local economic base and as a land use that provides the Town of Riverhead with much of its rural, rustic character and charm.
B. Assure the continued viability of farming as an industry which is important to the local economy and to the preservation of open space and vistas.
C. Provide for the most beneficial relationship between the use of land and buildings and the agricultural practices of the community and to further encourage the wise use and management of the town’s natural resources.
D. Provide the Town Board, Planning Board and other relevant boards/committees with a conduit for recommendations from the agricultural community on the long- and short-term impact of a variety of matters and questions considered by these groups.

2-2. Formation of Committee; membership; terms of office.

A. The Committee shall be composed of seven members appointed by the Town Board that are residents of the Town of Riverhead from the agricultural community.
B. The members appointed to the Committee shall serve for a four-year term. Upon initial formation, two members shall serve for a one-year term, two members for a two-year term and all others for a three-year term. Each year thereafter, reappointments or new appointments will be for four-year terms.
C. Appointments shall be from January 1 through December 31.
D. Members shall serve without salary.

E.  Any member who fails to attend at least half of the meetings of the Committee in a given calendar year shall be subject to removal from the Committee by a majority vote of the Committee.

2.3. Powers and duties.

The Committee shall:

A. Review of agriculture related site plan applications and subdivisions.

  1. Any site plan that is related to agricultural activities, or that contemplates the use of Transfer Development Rights shall be referred to the Agricultural Advisory Committee for review.  
  2. Any proposed subdivision of land located in an agricultural zoning district, or land currently used for agriculture shall be referred to the Agricultural Advisory Committee for review.
  3. The Committee shall present advice relating to the desirability of such proposed use or subdivision, including advice as to the nature of farming and farm resources within any proposed or established area. The Agricultural Advisory Committee shall have 45 days to respond with a recommendation(s) for the proposed action.  The recommendation(s) shall be advisory only.
B. Review of proposed zoning change in agricultural zoning districts.

1. Whenever a proposed zoning, policy change or development (residential, business or industrial) affecting town agricultural zoning districts is presented to the Town Board within or contiguous to a county agricultural district or town agricultural zones, it shall be referred to the Agricultural Advisory Committee for review. The Agricultural Advisory Committee shall have 45 days to respond with a recommendation(s) for the action(s).
2. The Committee shall present advice relating to the desirability of such action, including advice as to the nature of farming and farm resources within any proposed or established area. This recommendation(s) shall include a determination as to whether the proposed action(s) will have an unreasonable adverse effect on the continuing viability of a farm enterprise or enterprises within the county or town agricultural districts. This recommendation(s) shall be advisory only.
C. Review local, county, state and federal legislation affecting agricultural issues and communicate the effect to the appropriate board and/or the Town Board.
D. Serve as a vehicle for communication between the agricultural community and the Town Board.
E. Meet as determined necessary by Committee members, but no less than eight times a year for review and recommendation purposes. These annual review and recommendations shall focus on zoning, planning activities and other actions affecting the Town of Riverhead agricultural community.
F. Submit to the Town Board an annual summary of the activities of the Agricultural Advisory Committee.
  • Underscore represents addition(s)

Dated:  Riverhead, New York
April 7, 2015

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD
OF THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD

DIANE M. WILHELM, TOWN CLERK

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