News from the Farmland and Open Space Committee
March 15, 2011 — Parma Town Board established a capital reserve fund to
fund the acquisition of land or an interest in land designed to preserve farmland or open
space within the Town. Initial funding was set at $15,000. See the Town Board
March 15th meeting minutes
for more information.
January 11, 2011 — Parma Town Board reappoints the following Parma Farmland
and Open Space Preservation Committee members with varying lengths terms: Scott Copey,
Marilyn DeMeyer, Pat Buskey, Tim Harner, Tim Thomas and Don Green.
December 17, 2010 — Town of Parma and the Genesee Land Trust finalized the
process to preserve the 114 acre Martin farm on the North East corner of Hilton-Parma
Corners Rd. and Burritt Rd.
See Press Release for more information
June 2, 2010 — The Martin family farm permissive referendum vote was held. The referendum passed with a 3 to 1 margin in favor of forever preserving the Martin property as farmland.
April 6, 2010 — Town set a date of June 2, 2010 for the permissive referendum vote
regarding the Martin Farm.
See town board meeting minutes for more information
March 2, 2010 — Town of Parma conducted a second public hearing regarding the
purchase of conservation easement rights for the Martin Farm. The Town Board voted to authorize
the Town to enter into a sale agreement for the purchase of the development rights
for the Martin Farm and to place a conservation easement on the property (subject to
permissive referendum) restricting all future development.
See town board meeting minutes for more information
December 1, 2009 — Town of Parma conducted a public hearing regarding the
purchase of conservation easement rights for the Martin Farm. The Town Board voted to authorize
the Town to enter into a sale agreement for the purchase of the development rights
for the Martin Farm and to place a conservation easement on the property restricting
all future development.
See town board meeting minutes for more information
August 21, 2009 — Town board announces NYS Department of Agriculture and
Markets has adopted and accepted the Town of Parma Agricultural and Farmland
Protection Plan. The Commissioner commended the Town Board and the Farmland and
Open Space Protection Committee for their initiative and efforts in developing the plan.
May 19, 2009 — Marilyn DeMeyer appointed as the Town of Parma representative to the Monroe
County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board.
April 7, 2009 — Public hearing continued. The town board approved the
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. All Farmland and Open Space Committee
members reappointed for the purpose of implementation of the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan.
See town board meeting minutes for more information
March 3, 2009 — Public hearing continued.
February 3, 2009 — Public hearing on Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan.
See town board meeting minutes for more information
January 27, 2009 — Monroe County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board approves
Parma's Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan.
December 16, 2008 — Informational meeting on draft Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Plan.
November 8th, 2008 — Scott, Marilyn and Don attend a seminar of the Purchase of Development Rights by the American Farmland Trust.
October 21, 2008 — Preliminary draft of the Town of Parma Agricultural and Farmland
Protection Plan presented to the town board for their review. More Information...
May 14, 2008 — Second farming and land owner community informational meeting held.
March 12, 2008 — Farming and land owner community informational meeting held.
February 28, 2008 — Scott and Marilyn attend a seminar on Growing New York Farms by the American Farmland Trust.
January 15, 2008 — Don Green joins the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Committee.
January 8, 2008 — New York Sate Department of Agriculture and Markets announced on January 8,
2008 that the Town of Parma received a $25,000 grant to develop local agricultural and
farmland protection plans. Parma was one of 19 Towns to receive funding. It was noted
that the application was one of the more thorough ones received and the committee was
complimented on the quality of what was submitted. More Information...
October 2, 2007 — Town Board authorizes the application for a $25,000 grant
through the NYS Department of Agricultural and Markets to further preservation of farmland in the Town of Parma.
After receiving several requests for proposals, the town board selected Stuart I.
Brown Associates a division of LaBella Associates, PC to be the choice that would
best fit the consulting needs of the committee and the Town of Parma. Some of the
areas they will assist the committee with are grant writing, identification
and acquisition of development rights of land and interpretation of survey results. More Information...
October 2, 2007 — Open Space Committee becomes the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Committee.
September 1, 2007 — Farmland and Open Space Preservation Survey completed
July 9, 2007 — Farmland and Open Space Preservation Survey mailed to 5,727 town households.
August 21, 2007 — Town board authorized the application for a $33,333 grant from the NYS
Department of Agriculture and Markets of which $25,000 will come from New
York State and $8,333 will be the local share. More Information...
February 27, 2007 — Open Space Committee holds first meeting.
February 6, 2007 — Tim Harner (Planning Board), Rick Holden (Planning Board)
, Tim Thomas (Zoning Board) and Pat Buskey (Zoning Board) and Don Harter (Conservation Board)
joined the Open Space Committee. More Information...
January 2, 2007 — Town Board created the open space committee with Scott Copey as chairman,
Marilyn DeMeyer as a community representative with additional members from the Zoning Board,
Planning Board and Conservation board. More Information...
"Without local farmland, there is no local food." (AFT) |