The Milton Grange held a public information meeting with the Saratoga County Planning & Economic Development Department at 50 West High Street in Ballston Spa to inform people of the open enrollment period for Agricultural District #2. Jeff Williams, Planner with the department, was on hand to answer specific questions from those in attendance.
The mission of the Milton Grange is to promote local agriculture and to support a rural life style. We all benefit from Agricultural Districts – food production, groundwater recharge, open space, scenic viewsheds, helping the local economy by providing on-farm jobs and supporting agribusinesses. Agricultural land requires fewer public services than developed land and results in cost savings for local communities i.e. – less taxes. Properties enrolled in the District are protected from the enactment and administration of unreasonably restrictive local regulations unless it can be shown that public health or safety is threatened.
The open enrollment period for the Ag District is each October. Every eight years the county reviews the district and landowners are able to take their properties out of the District or choose to remain in it.
This past enrollment period saw a total of 578.72 acres or twelve property owners petitioning to include sixteen parcels into the Ag District, of those there were eight Milton property owners with eleven parcels. Those landowners who applied will find out next spring if their applications to be in the Ag District were accepted.