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Home My WebLink About02/07/2018 Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes February 7, 2018 Opening The regular meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:05 pm on February 7, 2018 in Southold Town Hall conference room. Present: Members Present Members absent Guests Chris Baiz John P. Sepenoski Karl Novak Douglas Cooper Lou Caracciolo Katie Sepenoski Jim Glover Peter Sepenoski Karen Rivara Patricia Moore John B. Sepenoski Tom Stevenson Mark Van Bourgondien Bill Ruland, Town Board Liaison Approval of Agenda The agenda was unanimously approved as distributed. Approval of Minutes The minutes from the preceding meeting were unavailable. General Items Introduction of new secretary for the committee, Cheryl Kaswell. Reminder that the next meeting will be held in 4 weeks on March 71h. Pat Moore was present regarding the Tenedios Agricultural Barn issue. Katie and Peter Sepenoski present for general information. Open Issues Tenedios Agricultural Barn Attorney Patricia Moore reviewed ongoing actions relative to the Tenedios Agricultural site plan. Agricultural Advisory Committee letter outlined issues to be addressed and Mr. Tenedios wants to get his building approved and built. Meeting with Orient public regarding the property was not productive and issues were raised regarding the livestock on the farm. Planning board items to be addressed included a visual impact study which the property owner has declined to complete upon advice of his attorney. All other items addressed. Site plan application was redone and resubmitted. Appreciative the Agricultural Advisory committee is supporting their efforts. Agricultural Advisory committee presented facts regarding this issue to the planning board as the August 14, 2017 public meeting listed the Tenedios Agricultural Barn under a SEQRA classification. The status report of the Planning board did not reference any of the Agricultural Advisory committee's comments. This is a small private farm with a limited number of livestock and is not considered "commercial". Issue discussed regarding memo missing prior to the public meeting on 1/8/18 which was believed to include the Tenedios Agricultural Barn issue but did not include that item. Discussion about other "Barn"properties where just a building permit was needed to construct a barn. It was noted that these approved barns stated their use as "Agricultural Storage". Other Business Discussion of"Farm operator's farm stand permits". Town attorney has drafted language requiring verification of"Farm stand" operation. The committee is developing a 20 question checklist defining agriculture and requirements to operate a permitted farm stand in the Town of Southold. This is to prevent non-permitted operators. Protection of farm stand owner/growers is the primary consideration. Grant money for DNA testing available to the Water and Shellfish Advisory & Cornell. Oysterponds creek and Orient Harbor are presently being tested. DNA testing is to determine human or animal DNA in waterways. DEC involvement as primary regulatory agency causes conflicts. Possibility the governor's office can encourage cooperation. Local Law-Agricultural Advisory Committee Draft 46 of Town of Southold, Local Law 44/2018, Chapter 280 Agricultural Advisory Committee discussed. Draft was discussed and clarifications made. Draft 47 with discussed changes will be available at a later meeting. Copy of Draft 46 attached to minutes. Discussion of easements, development rights, changes in Southold Town property owners, those that have money as a priority over farming or stewardship. Next generation cannot sustain agriculture without start- up properties available. Discussion of restrictions on properties put in place by prior owners passing to new owners. Discussion of using Community Preservation Funds to reclaim vistas. Right now, the primary goal is to codify the committee so that every application must pass by the committee for approval. Need to produce a clean copy of the local law by Friday then the Agricultural Advisory Committee Local Law can be submitted to the code committee in March. New Business None. Adjournment Motion to adjourn meeting by Doug Cooper, seconded by Tom Stevenson. Meeting adjourned was adjourned at 9:00 pm by Chris Baiz. The next general meeting will be at 7:00 pm on March 7, 2018, in Southold Town Hall Conference room. Minutes submitted by: Cheryl Kaswell Approved by: