Friends of Rural New York

10/21/2005

By Patrick Abdalla

OWEGO, N.Y.- There was one piece of land on everybody’s mind at Thursday’s public hearing in Owego, N.Y.

The land Nichols, N.Y., farmer Martin Kulhman plans to sell to the Drost family, who are attempting to bring a large-scale chicken farm to Tioga County, N.Y., was the hot topic at the meeting. The hearing was scheduled so the county could discuss its adoption of the agricultural district that is in Owego and Nichols.
Kuhlman’s property is one of several that are being added to the agricultural district. If it is passed into the district, local zoning laws will not be able to prohibit the operation to come into the town. Because of public worries over possible environmental issues certain residents say are a by-product of the operation, residents were there to voice their opposition to the issue.
However, the parcels that have applied for the land are not voted in on a singular basis, they are done so as a whole group, Elaine Jardine, of the county’s Economic Development and Planning Department, explained.
Residents, such as Deb Stevens, said the land should not be accepted because of the plans for its future. However, some county officials, as well as and other citizens, said the land qualifies for the district so it should be allowed in.
“I don’t think it’s mean to protect industrial operations,” Stevens said of the district. “This isn’t a small, quaint family farm.”
Eli Walsh countered her argument, saying it is no one else’s business who Kuhlman sold his land to.
Earlier this month, the Nichols Town Board voted 4-1 to impose a moratorium on high-density development and commercial farming.
Before their sights were set on Nichols, the Drosts considered moving to Barton, N.Y., where they were also met with opposition from townspeople. One resident, Don Foster, purchased the land the family was considering, to keep them out of the town.
Every eight years, an agricultural district is reviewed, Jardine explained. Residents can opt into the district any year, but cannot leave it until the years it is being reviewed.
Since the last time the district was reviewed, the district has grown roughly 9 percent, planner Bryan Coates reported. In 1996-1997, there were 18,000 acres in the district, but now there is more than 20,000.
statistic he reported was that during that time, the amount of dairy farms dropped by just one, from 30 to 29. In most cases, he said, the drop in dairy farms has been much more significant.
There are also five horse farms in the district, whereas eight years ago there were none.

©Daily and Sunday Review 2005