Chairman Meyer called the hearing to order at 2:28 p.m.
The Clerk called the roll and the following legislators were present: Legislators Lesniak, Stott, Rapp, Rhinehart, Buckel, Corbett, Stanczyk, Holmquist, Kilmartin, DeMore, Warner, Jordan, Kinne, Laguzza, Masterpole, Williams, Winslow, Meyer.
The Clerk read the notice of public hearing. Chairman Meyer asked if any speakers wished to be heard.
Kathleen Bennett, Attorney for Bond. Schoeneck. & King. representing Hourigan Dairy Farms. LLC-
Hourigan Dairy Farms owns three parcels located within the Village of Elbridge that they have requested be included within existing Agricultural District No. 3 – specifically, the three parcels owned by Hourigan Dairy Farms in the Village are tax map parcel nos.18-1-1, 19-3-1.1 and 19-3-2.1. As part of an agreement that was reached with the Village of Elbridge to resolve certain concerns associated with storm water runoff, Hourigan Dairy farms is now requesting that its application be amended to remove tax map parcel no. 19-03-1.1 from it’s request and that only tax map parcel nos. 18-1-1 and 19-3-2.1 be included within Agricultural District No. 3. I understand that the County Legislature has been provided with a copy of the agreement from the Village. The Hourigans request that the two remaining parcels be included because these parcels are adjacent to land that is currently owned and farmed by the Hourigans and that the other land is also within an existing agricultural district and is protected. Inclusion of the agriculture district provides certain protections under the New York States Agriculture and Markets Law including the protections of the right to farm and certain property tax abatements.
Harry Armani. Village of Elbridge. Attorney–
I would like to say we have a great opportunity to take advantage of the generosity and graciousness of our County Legislature, particularly Bob Warner and the Hourigans. They have very graciously entered into an agreement that I think is a beautiful example of common sense. The Village was faced with my recommendation to enter into this agreement – provides a number of wonderful things for the Village and it protects its inhabitants. Particularly, the Hourigans have graciously agreed to, at their own cost; build a storm water management pond on their own land. They have agreed to take out tax map parcel 0190301.1, which is a 6.5 acre parcel on the cornerway and an entranceway to a very lovely subdivision in the Village of Elbridge. That’s huge for the village; it’s huge for its residents. The Hourigans have even been so kind and gracious as to go further and provide the Village, at no cost. with a substantial drainage buffer easement along the south line of the entire subdivision which begins at about 75 feet in width and extends to approximately 200 some odd feet. There is a lot of other refinements I’d like to thank you and tell you that the Village passed and authorized me to sign this agreement unanimously last night. The Planning Board is 100% in favor of this. We would ask and join in with the Hourigan’s request to amend their application. We support the inclusion of the two tax map parcels mentioned by Kathleen Bennett and we also very much support the exclusion of the 6.5 acre I mentioned.
Henry Doer, Mayor of Elbridge–
Thank you Chairman Meyer and the Legislature on behalf of all the residents out in the Wild West frontier of Onondaga County, known as Elbridge. I am here to let you know that the Village totally supports John and Nancy who have been twenty year neighbors of ours, and we expect them to be there another twenty years. One parcel is the entrance to a cul-de-sac. The homes are $170,000 or more. It just makes common sense and it proves that local government works – that we bring to you a solution, not a problem.
There being no further speakers, Chairman Meyer closed the hearing at 2:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
DEBORAH L. MATURO, Clerk
Onondaga County Legislature