Farmland preservation

Suffolk legislative committees will take up resolutions this week to authorize the purchase of 50 acres of farmland on Sound Avenue in Riverhead and 20 acres of open space in Northville. Here's the full committee schedule, with agenda and livestream links.

A committee tasked with developing ways to enhance the town's transfer of development rights program is unhappy about the town board's failure to act on its recommendations. Town board members say the town lacks the money to do the required environmental analysis necessary for zoning code amendments proposed by the committee.

Corn mazes and agritainment, greenhouses, processing facilities and commercial horse boarding operations are among uses 'sufficiently related to agricultural production' and therefore permitted on preserved farmland, an Appellate Division panel ruled yesterday.

Pending legislation in Albany would allow on preserved farmland any development or activity included in the definition of "farm operation" under the state Ag & Markets Law.

Riverhead Town is considering sweeping zoning code changes intended to boost farmland preservation by allowing residential development in the Route 58 commercial corridor.

Suffolk officials are taking legislative action to continue the county’s farmland preservation program — and protect agriculture — following what they call a devastating blow struck by a State Supreme Court ruling last year.

A court ruling preventing "structures" on preserved farmland threatens the very existence of the county's successful farmland preservation program.

The Peconic Land Trust will review Riverhead's community preservation project plan and transfer of development rights program to help the town develop conservation and preservation strategies, thanks to a $30,000 state grant.

Suffolk County legislators Tuesday approved the purchase of development rights on 22.1 acres of farmland on the northwest corner of Sound and Roanoke avenues in Riverhead.

With more than 24,000 acres in agricultural land, Southold and Riverhead are home to nearly two-thirds of the county's farmland. But nearly half of that acreage is still unprotected, making preservation efforts on the North Fork the "highest priority."