Erie County Legislator Michael H. Ranzenhofer (R-Clarence) announced today that the Erie County Legislature has approved the Alden-Newstead and Clarence-Newstead Agricultural Districts with minor modifications. The Agricultural Districts, which will now be sent to the New York State Legislature for final approval, were approved unanimously in the Erie County Legislature's session on Thursday, September 23.

"The review is now complete, and I congratulate members of the public and private sectors for their hard work in shaping these agricultural districts for the next eight years," said Ranzenhofer. "Farmland is something that we must never take for granted, and this cooperative effort is vital to its preservation."

Approval of the Districts followed a review of each district's boundaries, as mandated by New York State Agricultural and Markets Law. Through the review process, a total of 137.06 acres were added to the Clarence-Newstead District. A public hearing to review the proposed modifications was held on August 3.

"I am thrilled that in this process, we were able to increase the size of the existing agricultural districts," added Ranzenhofer. "Farmland is a precious and shrinking resource in our community, and this is a step in the right direction in maintaining the strength of our local farming industry."

Throughout the review process, the Erie County Division of Planning and the Legislature's Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board studied the current make-up of the districts in order to determine the optimal configuration for preserving land for agricultural use. Inclusion in the district entitles property owners to certain tax benefits in an effort to encourage the protection of farmland and the agricultural industry.

Ranzenhofer also announced Legislature approval of an initiative that would allow agricultural districts to come up for review for an annual thirty (30) day period, rather than having to wait eight years between reviews.

"With the ever-changing make-up of our community, it is important that we have the opportunity to evaluate farmland protection more than every eight years," concluded Ranzenhofer.

For further information on Erie County's Agricultural Districts, contact Legislator Ranzenhofer's District Office at 631-8695.