West NY News

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – In accordance with New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Section 303-a(1), the County Legislature must review an Agricultural District eight years after its creation and every eight years thereafter.

The upcoming eight-year review of Chautauqua County Agricultural District 8 will cover the Towns of Busti, Carroll, Chautauqua, Ellery, Ellicott, Kiantone, Poland, and Stockton; Villages of Bemus Point, Cassadaga, Celoron, Falconer, Lakewood, and Mayville; and the City of Jamestown. This district encompasses 99,006 acres. The county has designated August 1st through August 30th as the public review period.

During this 30-day period, any municipality, landowner, or state agency within the Agricultural District may propose modifications. Landowners can submit requests to add parcels of predominantly viable agricultural land or remove parcels.

Requests should be submitted to the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development at 201 West Third Street Suite 115 Jamestown, New York 14701 or via email to sharpl@chqgov.com by 4:30 p.m. on August 30th. Questions regarding the process can be directed to the same department.

The Agricultural District 8 Review Worksheet, current district maps, and additional information are available on the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development website at bit.ly/CHQagdistrict. A map of District 8 is also available for public inspection at the Clerk’s Office of the Chautauqua County Legislature in Mayville. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 716-753-4215.

At the conclusion of the review period, proposed modifications will be submitted to the Chautauqua County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB). Based on AFPB recommendations, a report will be prepared for review by the Planning and Economic Development (PED) Legislative Committee. Following their review, a recommendation will be forwarded to the Chautauqua County Legislature for a public hearing. Afterward, a resolution vote will determine whether to accept AFPB's recommendations. If approved by resolution, these recommendations will be sent to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for certification by its Commissioner.

An agricultural district consists predominantly of viable agricultural land where farming operations are prioritized. This should not be confused with agricultural assessment programs that allow eligible farmland to be taxed at its agricultural assessment value. For more details on agricultural assessments for specific parcels, landowners should consult their local assessor.

For further information about the Agricultural District Review process or related inquiries contact Lauren Sharp at (716) 661-8245 or sharpl@chqgov.com.