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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9_Agriculture_Final 5_16_2019 CLEANSoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate ThisdocumentwaspreparedfortheNewYorkStateDepartmentofState withfundsprovidedunderTitle11oftheEnvironmentalProtectionFund. Agriculture Final June20,2012 UpdatedMay16,2019 Agriculture 1 AgricultureisanimportantpartofSouthold,bothintermsofeconomicsandlandareaused,with about30percentofits33,350acresinfarmland(see Figure9-1). Figure9-1.SoutholdGeneralLandUse AgricultureformsthereforeanintegralpartoftheidentityoftheTown.Agricultureandrelated businessescombinedareinthetopfiveeconomicenginesofoureconomyaccordingtodata compiledinChapter7,“EconomicDevelopment”(see Table9-1.). Agriculture 30% (10,008ac.) Developed (includes residential& commercial) 48% (15,846ac.) Not developed 9% (3,008ac.) Recreation& OpenSpace 13% (4,488ac.) Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 2 Table9-1.TopfiveindustriesinSouthold,byoutputtothelocaleconomy Industry OutputtoLocalEconomy ConstructionIndustry&Related $156,000,000 Government $139,000,000 Agriculture&RelatedIndustries $120,000,000 Retail $108,000,000 MedicalIndustries $89,000,000 MinnesotaIMPLANGroupIndustryProfile.2008Data ExistingConditions FarmInventory In2010,theSoutholdAgriculturalAdvisoryCommitteeconductedaninventoryoffarmoperations andcroptypes.Theyfoundthattherewereapproximately134agriculturaloperationsintheTown, representingadiversityofcrops(see Table9-2.). Table9-2.Cropcategoriesinacresofland1 CropCategory Acres Vineyard 2,151 Vegetables/Fruits (notgrowningreenhouses)1,835 Nursery/Greenhouse 1,444 Fallow2 1,150 Sod 913 Hay,alfalfa,grain,fieldcorn 786 Fallow23 730 Livestock 576 Woodland 466 Aquaculture 272 Christmastrees 64 1 Thisinventorywascompletedin2010,andcroptypesaresubjecttochangeovertime.Thetotal acresis379acreslarger,meaningtherearesomeareasthatarerecognizedasfarmland,andyetare notcodedassuchinthelandusefield,orthatsomeareasoffarmlandarenolongerclassifiedas such(2010inventoryversus2018landusedata). 2 The“Fallow”categoryrepresentsfarmlandthatiseitherbeingrestedfromcultivationaspartof normalfarmingpractice,orhasrecentlystoppedbeingactivelyfarmed. 3 The“Fallow2”categoryrepresentsfarmlandthathasbeenfallowforlongenoughtohavesmall cedarsandbrush. Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 3 Approach ToretainagricultureaspartofSouthold’sfabricandeconomy,weneedtounderstandfarmingasa business. ThebusinessoffarminghasmanyformsinSouthold,fromrowsofvegetablecrops,tothe structuredvineyardswiththeirtrellises,togreenhousesandnurserieswithlargeareasofconnected greenhouseswithpottedplants,totheopenwaterofthebaywhereshellfishgrow.Farmingbusiness modelsalsovarywidely,andincludewholesalegrowers,retailfarmstands,u-pickfarms,wineries withlivemusic,andcornmazes,hayrides,andotheron-siteentertainment. ThechallengestoagricultureinSoutholdaremany.Oneofthelargestdifficultiesiscompetition withgrowersinotherplaceswhohavelowercostsofdoingbusiness.Thecostsofdoingbusiness forafarminSoutholdincludelandandutilitypricesthatareamongthehighestinthecountry. Otherchallengesincludeweather,pests,cropdiseases,andpotentialconflictswithneighbors,which presentriskforabusiness.Farmsalsohavemanylayersofregulation,beginningwithtownzoning, andincludingcounty,stateandfederalregulations.AnotherchallengefortheTowninitseffortsto retainthebusinessofagricultureistoprotectpublichealthandsafety. GoalsandObjectives 1.Retaining&advancingtheindustryofagriculture 1.1 EnsureSoutholdTownCodeandpoliciesencourageand advancethebusinessofagriculture. FarminghasbeenpartofSoutholdtownforitsentirehistory.Overtheyears,therehavebeen majortransitionsfromonetypeoffarmingtoanother,necessitatedbythechanging marketplaceandcompetitionfromotherplaces.Theabilityofagriculturetomaketransitionsis essentialtothecontinuationoffarminginSouthold.TheTownmustfindwaystoensureits regulationsanddevelopmentrightseasementsallowforenoughflexibilitytoallowagricultural businessestoflourish,whilecontinuingtobalancetheneedsofthepublicsafetyandqualityof life. Objectives 1)Providewrittenpoliciesandproceduresforagriculturalsiteplans,includingahandoutatthe BuildingDepartmentandPlanningBoardcounters. TheTownCodeprovidesforagriculturalsiteplanapplicationstohavesomeofthetechnical requirementswaived,thoughthespecificproceduresforthesewaiversarenotclear.A detailedpolicyandprocedurehandoutwouldhelpapplicantsunderstandtherequirements. Inaddition,land-basedstructuresusedforaquacultureshouldalsobeincludedunderthis policy. ResponsibleParties:PlanningBoard Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 4 PossiblePartnerships:BuildingDepartment,AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee 2)ReviewTownCodetoensurethelanguageallowsfordiversityandnewideasinfarminguses andactivities.TheTownCodeneedstobeupdatedsoitisflexibleonfutureagricultural practicesandisconsistentwiththedefinitionsandpoliciesoftheNewYorkState DepartmentofAgricultureandMarketswhilealsobalancingthepublichealth,safetyand welfare. a.Exemptcertainagriculturalstructures/usesfromsiteplanreview. Siteplansarerequiredtoensurethepublic’shealth,safety,andwelfare.Someagricultural structuresareofatype,size,orlocationwherethereislittleornopossibleimpacttothe public,ormaynotactuallybeconsidered“structures”becauseoftheirfunction(seasonal hoophousesareanexampleofthis). b.BroadenTownCodetospecificallyallowon-farmprocessingofanytypeofcropinto retailandwholesale-readyproducts(e.g.,pies,preserves,chips,wine,beer,vodka), includingtheprocessingoflivestock.Productsmustbeprimarilymadefromwhatis grownontheproperty,aswellasonotherfarmlandownedorleasedbythepersonor companyconductingtheprocessing.Beingabletoconvertacropintoavalue-added productmaybeessentialtoagriculture’sfuturesuccessasabusinessinSouthold. c.AmendthedefinitionsinTownCodetobeconsistentandup-to-datewithcurrentand futureagriculturalpractices(Chapters70,72,240,280). d.AdddefinitionstotheTownCodetoclarifyagricultural-relatedtermswherenecessary. e.Defineadevelopmentrightandwhatusesremainafterdevelopmentrightsare purchased. Inotherwords,isthepurchaseofadevelopmentrightsimplytoprohibitresidential development?Whatusesremainintactafterasaleofdevelopmentrights?Clarifythisin theTownCode. f.OnlandwheredevelopmentrightshavebeensoldtotheTown(Town-preserved farmland),considerprovidingforequalagriculturalrightsaslandthathasnothadits developmentrightssoldtoallowforon-farmmarketingandotherstructuresanduses. g.Explorewaystoallowfarmstohavemultipleagriculturaluseswithouthavingtosatisfy theminimumlotsizerequirementforeachuse. h.Considerbringingbackthe“set-off”foractivefarmsonly,withstrictnewrulesto preventtheincrementalsubdivisionintomanylotsovertime.Thisistoallowforthe creationofonelotforafamilymemberwithouthavingtogothroughthefull subdivisionprocess.Considerationswouldincludewhetheraviablefarmisleftbehind, determiningtheappropriatesizeoftheset-offparcel,andensuringitisaone-timeonly allowance. Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 5 i.ClarifywhatiscurrentlyallowedunderTownCodeforaquaculturiststoretailtheir harvestinSouthold.Ifimpedimentsexistduetoanaquaculturist’slocationinthewater ratherthanonland,considerfindingawaytoremoveorlessentheimpediments throughamendmentstotheTownCodetoallowretailsalesofaquacultureproductsat farmstands. j.Landcontainingancillaryland-basedstructuresusedforaquacultureshouldbeincluded intheAgriculturalDistrictandbeeligiblefortheAgriculturalAssessment. k.Consideranincreaseinthelotcoverageforgreenhouses. Currentlythelotcoverageforanystructureis20percentonmostagriculturalland. Greenhouseoperationsorevenhightunnelstoextendthegrowingseasonneedtobe abletocoverahigherpercentageoflandtomaximizeefficiency. Aslidingscaleoflotcoveragemaybeadvisable,withsmallerparcelsbeingalloweda higherpercentage.Drainageofstormwatermustbeconsideredaheadoftimeforhigh percentageoflotcoveragewithimpervioussurfaces. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee,TownBoard PossiblePartnerships:BuildingDepartment,PlanningBoard,LandPreservationCommittee, LongIslandFarmBureau,LongIslandWineCouncil 3)ReferdevelopmentapplicationsrelatedtoagriculturetotheAgriculturalAdvisory Committeeforanopinion. TheTownCodewasrevisedin2018tocodifytheparticipationoftheAgriculturalAdvisory Committeeinthesiteplanprocessforagriculturalprojects.Otherboardsmayalsotake advantageoftheexpertiseonthiscommitteeforapplicationsrelatingtoagriculture. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:BuildingDepartment,PlanningBoard,ZoningBoardofAppeals, BoardofTrustees 4)ReviewfutureTownPurchaseofDevelopmentRights(PDR)easementstoensurethe languageallowsfordiversityandnewideasinfarmingusesandactivities. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:PlanningBoard,LandPreservationCommittee 5)InfutureTownPDReasements,allowforaresidencewithintheeasementarea. Reservingonedevelopmentrightforaresidencewithintheeasementwillallowformore flexibilityinthefuturelocation.Thisdevelopmentrightwouldberetainedbytheownerof theproperty(andthuswouldnotbepurchasedbytheTown). ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:LandPreservationCommittee,PlanningBoard Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 6 Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 7 1.2 Promoteawarenessofandenforcetheprovisionsofthe FarmlandBillofRights(akaRighttoFarm)inTownCode. In1997,theTownBoardamendedtheTownZoningCodetoincludetheFarmlandBillof Rights,thepurposeofwhichistoreduceconflictsbetweenpeopleresidingontractsadjacent tofarmlands.Thissectionofthecodefindsthatagricultureisanessentialactivitywithinthe Town,outlinesthebenefitsoffarmingalongwithfindingthatthesebenefitsoffsetany nuisancethatmaybecaused,andidentifiesfarmingpracticesthatareincompliancewith applicableregulationstobeprotectedfarmpractices.Certainprovisionsofthislaw,suchasthe requirementthatbrokersprovideacopyofthebillofrightstopurchasersofpropertyadjacent tofarms,mayneedsomepromotionandawarenesstoensureitoccurs. Objectives 1)Workwiththerealestateindustry,includingrealestatebrokersandrealestateattorneys, topromoteawarenessoftherequirementsoftheFarmlandBillofRightsinSouthold TownCode. 2)Createabrochurepromotingawarenessofthisrequirementthatcanbedistributedto thepublic. 3)AskthelocalpapertorunanarticleontheTown’s‘FarmlandBillofRights”,orinclude mentionofitinarticlesrelatedtoagriculture. 4)AddsignagetotheentranceofthetownstatingthattheTownisa“righttofarm community.” 5)IncreaseenforcementofthisTownCoderequirement. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:Realestatecompaniesandrealestateindustryorganizations 1.3 Continuetoprotectfarmlandfromconversiontoanon- agriculturaluse. Farmlandprotectionintheformofpurchaseofdevelopmentrightshasbeensteadilyoccurring inSoutholdsince1974whenoneofthefirst-everpurchaseofdevelopmentrightswas undertakenbySuffolkCounty.Oftheapproximately10,000acresofagriculturallandin Southold,over4,700acresoffarmlandhavebeenpreservedbyvariouslevelsofgovernment/ non-profitorganizationsbythepurchaseofdevelopmentrightsandthroughthesubdivision process(see Table9-3). Supportingagriculturethroughtheothergoalsinthischapterwillalsohelptopreventthe conversionoffarmland. Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 8 Table9-3.Typesandamountsoffarmlandprotectedfromresidentialdevelopmentin SoutholdTown. Type Acres SoutholdTownPDR 2,633 SuffolkCountyPDR 1,751 NewYorkStatePDR 22 PeconicLandTrust 207 SubdivisionOpenSpace 178 Total 4,767 Objectives 1)PromotethepurchaseofdevelopmentrightsbyTown,County,andState. 2)Continueseekingfundingfromothersourcesfordevelopmentrightspurchases, includingfederalandstategrants. 3)PromoteconservationsubdivisionsandOpenDevelopmentAreaPlans(ODA),and AgriculturalPlannedDevelopmentDistricts(AgPDD). 4)Duringthesubdivisionprocess,provideandenforcerequiredbuffersbetweenfarmsand housesandbufferstothestreet.Buffersshouldbeplacedontheresidentialparcels createdinthesubdivisiontokeepasmuchlandinagricultureaspossible. 5)Contactappropriatestate-electedofficialstopromotetheextensionoftheCommunity PreservationFund(2percenttransfertaxusedtofundlandpreservationeffortsonthe EastEnd),whichwillsunsetin2050. ResponsibleParties:LandPreservationCommittee,PlanningBoard PossiblePartnerships:SuffolkCounty,NewYorkState,Federalgrantprograms 1.4 Maintainacurrentinventorydocumentofactiveagricultural lands Maintaininganinventorydocumentofactivefarmlandisimportanttodetecttrendsand determinewhethertheTown’sgoalsofmaintainingandadvancingagriculturearebeingmet. Objectives 1)Updateexistinginventoryatleasteveryfiveyears,orasneeded. ResponsibleParties:PlanningBoard Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 9 PossiblePartnerships:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee,PeconicLandTrust 2)Implementaprogramtohelpconnectnewfarmerswithownersoffallowlandthatmight agreetolong-termleasesforagricultureandpotentialpropertytaxsavings. •Therearealmost2,000acresoffallowlandidentifiedinthelatestSoutholdfarmland inventory.Thisprogramcouldworkwellforpeoplewhoarejustbeginningandmay needonlyasmallamountoflandtostart. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:CornellCooperativeExtension,LongIslandFarmBureau,Peconic LandTrust 1.5 Promoteandsupportagriculture-relatedtourism Agriculture-relatedtourismhelpsfarmersselltheirproduct.Promotingtourism,however,must alsotakeintoconsiderationthewelfareandsafetyoftownresidents. Objective •ContinuetoworkwiththeNorthForkPromotionCouncil(NFPC)tohelppromote agriculture-relatedtourism. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee,SoutholdTownEconomic DevelopmentCommittee,NorthForkPromotionCouncil PossiblePartnerships:LongIslandWineCouncil,LongIslandFarmBureau,Mattituck ChamberofCommerce,NorthForkChamberofCommerce,EastEndTourismAlliance, VillageofGreenport,VillageofGreenportBusinessImprovementDistrict 1.6 Promotea“BuyLocal”Campaign Matchinglocalproducerswithlocalbuyersisawin-winforallinvolved.Producethatreaches theconsumerisfresher,andthecostsandenvironmentalimpactsassociatedwithshippingare reduced. Objectives 1.Workwithlocalorganizationstopromotea“buylocal”campaignforagriculturalproducts (e.g.,GrownonLongIsland). ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:SoutholdEconomicDevelopmentCommittee,LongIslandFarm Bureau,PeconicLandTrust,LongIslandWineCouncil,HumanResourceCenter Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 10 2.Encourageschoolstoeducatechildrenabouttheconnectionbetweenfarmingandfood. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:Schooldistricts 1.7 Promotethedirectpurchaseoffreshvegetables&fruitsby schoolsandotherinstitutions. Directconnectionsbetweenschoolsandotherinstitutionstolocalfarmshavebeensuccessfulin otherareas.TheTownmightbeabletobeinstrumentalinencouragingthistypeofpartnership betweenlocalcafeterias/kitchensandlocalfarms. Objective •Workwithschools,seniorcenters,hospitals,foodpantries,andotherinstitutionsto encouragetheirpurchasingfreshvegetablesandfruitandotherproductsdirectlyfromlocal farms. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:Schools,hospitals,nursinghomes,LongIslandFarmBureau, SoutholdHumanResourceCenter 1.8 PromotethecontinuationofaquacultureinSouthold Aquacultureisagriculture,themaindifferencebeingthatthecropisgrowninwater. Aquaculture,astypicallypracticedinSouthold,requirescleanwaterinthebaysandcreekstobe successful.ThecropmostcommonlygrownbyaquaculturistsinSoutholdisshellfish.Shellfish arefilterfeeders,andtheirfilteringoftheseawaterprovidesanenvironmentalbenefittothe healthofthebays.Pollutantsandsiltationfromstormwaterrunoff,groundwaterpollutionfrom septicsystems,andlawnchemicals,amongotherinputs,allcontributetothedegradationofour baysandcreeksandcancreateatoxicenvironmentforshellfish. Objectives 1)Improvewaterqualityinthecreeksandbaysforaquaculture(thecultivationof aquaticorganismssuchasshellfish). a.Continuethestormwaterrunoffpreventioninitiative(MS4)topreventstormwater runofffrompollutingthecreeks,bays,andothersurfacewaters,includinga voluntaryuseofbestmanagementpracticesforpreventingstormwaterrunofffrom farmland.Deviselow-tech,low-costsolutionstostormwaterrunoffforfarmsthat donotuseupalargeamountofland. b.SeekfundsforanEastEndsurfacewater-qualitytestingfacilityorcreatea volunteerprogramtotestwaterqualityinamannerthatisacceptabletotheNew YorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation. Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 11 c.Educatehomeownersabouttheimpactsofsepticsystemsandlawnfertilizersand chemicalstothegroundwater,andstepsthatcanbetakentolessenthoseimpacts. ResponsibleParties:SoutholdMS4(StormwaterPollutionPrevention)Committee PossiblePartnerships:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee,SoutholdShellfishAdvisory Committee,U.S.DepartmentofAgricultureNaturalResourcesConservationService, SuffolkCountySoilandWaterConservationDistrict,NewYorkStateDepartmentof EnvironmentalConservation,Baymen’sAssociation,SoutholdBoardofTrustees, AssociationofMarineIndustries 2)Educateboatersaboutaquacultureoperationstopreventthebreakageofgearand thespreadofcontaminantsfrombilgewater. Boaterscanunknowinglydestroyaquaculturecropsbytravellingoverbuoysandpulling themup.Theycanalsocausethespreadofcontaminantsbypumpingoutbilgesnear aquacultureoperations. ResponsibleParties:SoutholdShellfishAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation, Baymen’sAssociation,SoutholdBoardofTrustees,marinasandboatingassociations. 3)Provideasourceofinformationandguidancefornewaquaculturalistsbyproviding linkstoeducationalprograms,andexistingaquaculturists. ResponsibleParties:SoutholdShellfishAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee,SuffolkCountyPlanning,U.S. DepartmentofAgricultureNaturalResourcesConservationService,SuffolkCountySoil andWaterConservationDistrict,NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmental Conservation,Baymen’sAssociation,SoutholdBoardofTrustees 2.Protectprimeagriculturalsoilsfromdepletion,removal, andexcessiveerosion. Soilisanimportantnaturalresourcethatmustbeprotectedforfuturegenerations. Objectives 1)EncouragefarmerstoengageinsoilconservationplanningwithU.S.Departmentof AgricultureNaturalResourcesConservationServiceandSuffolkCountySoilandWater ConservationDistrict. 2)Preventstrippingofsoilunderneathfarmstructuresthrougheducationprogramsin partnershipwithCornellCooperativeExtension. Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 12 3)InpartnershipwithCornellCooperativeExtensionencouragecovercroppingto preventsoilerosionthrougheducationabouttheimportanceofsoilmanagementand besttechniques. 4)Encouragecroprotation,whereappropriate. 5)ConsideraddingapagetotheTown’swebsitethatfocusesonagricultureandcontains linkstosoilconservationresourcesandagencies. 6)WorkwiththeNewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservationtofind improvedmethodstocontrolCanadageeseanddeertopreventtheirremovalofcover crops.Oneexampleofimprovedmanagementistoimplementanaggregatelimitrather thanadailylimitforthetakingofgeese. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:U.S.DepartmentofAgricultureNaturalResourcesConservation Service,SuffolkCountySoilandWaterConservationDistrict,NewYorkState DepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation 3.Promotebestmanagementpracticesfortheuseof agriculturalpesticidesandherbicidestoprotect groundwaterandsurfacewaterresources. Southold’saquifers,creeks,andbaysareallsusceptibletopollutionfromtheuseofpesticide andherbicidechemicals.Whilethesechemicalsareheavilyregulatedbyotherlevelsof government,theTowncouldhavearoleinprovidingeducationandawareness,especiallyto newfarmers,aboutthebestmanagementpracticesavailableandhowtheyrelatetoSouthold’s uniqueenvironment. Objective •Developaninformationalwebsitepageandbrochureregardingbestmanagementpractices foragricultureinSouthold,includinglinkstorelevantagencies. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:CornellCooperativeExtension,LongIslandFarmBureau 4.Promoteimprovedagriculturalyieldsthroughnuisance wildlifemanagement. Southoldishometodiversewildlife,someofwhichcausemajorproblemsforcrops.These includedeer,Canadageeseandwildturkeys.Withalmostnonaturalpredators,thepopulations oftheseanimalsgrowunchecked,leadingtoincreasingdamagetocrops.Solutionstothese problemsshouldbeexploredbyworkingwithseverallevelsofgovernmentregulatoryagencies, aswellaslocalgrowers. Agriculture SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 13 Objective •Workwithregulatoryandfarmsupportagenciestodetermineiftherearewaysforthe Towntohelpfindsolutionstothisproblem. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation, CornellCooperativeExtension,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,SoutholdDeer ManagementTaskForce,LongIslandFarmBureau 5.Promotebestmanagementpracticestopreventthe movementofcropdiseaseandpestsfromonelocation toanother. Awarenessandeducationofthepublicofthemethodsbywhichcropdiseasesandpestsare movedfromoneplacetoanothercanhelppreventtheircausingwidespreadcroploss.For example,excavatingandmovingsoilinanareawithgoldennematodecanspreadthis devastatingcroppesttootherplaces.Anotherexampleisthelateblight,afungusthataffects potatoesandtomatoes,amongothercrops.Thisfungusisspreadbythewind,andahome gardenercouldeasilyspreadittocommercialcropsiftheyareunawareofit. Objectives 1)Developaninformationalbrochureregardinglocalcropdiseasesandpests,includingwhat thehomegardenercandotohelppreventcropdiseasesfrommovingfromhomegardens tocommercialcrops. 2)DevelopaninformationalpageontheTown’swebsiteregardinglocalcropdiseasesand pests,includingtheaboveinformationandlinkstoexistinginformationsuchasthe “Blightcast”providedbyCornellCooperativeExtension. ResponsibleParties:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee PossiblePartnerships:CornellCooperativeExtension,LongIslandFarmBureau 6.Protectpublicsafetybyensuringthereisadequate parkingandtrafficcontrolonprivatepropertyatretail agriculturaloperations. Objectives •Considercodifyingparkingrequirementsforagricultural-relatedretailoperationsthatattract largenumbersofpeople. ResponsibleParties:SoutholdTownTransportationCommission PossiblePartnerships:AgriculturalAdvisoryCommittee