Proposal Would Add 31 Acres to the County’s Agricultural District in the Town of Glenville
On March 3, 2025, the Schenectady County Legislature will hold a public hearing on two proposed additions to the County’s Agricultural District in the Town of Glenville, one parcel totaling six acres and another parcel totaling 25 acres. Primary uses of the properties include egg production and growing a variety of agricultural commodities including vegetables, flowers, and mushrooms with the intentions to start a fruit tree orchard.
The annual 30-day review period for inclusion in the Schenectady County Agricultural District takes place in December. The County received two applications during the 2024 review period. Applications submitted during the review period are reviewed by the Schenectady County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB), who then makes a recommendation to the County Legislature for each application. The Legislature must hold a public hearing in accordance with NYS Agricultural & Markets Law before any new parcels can be added to the Agricultural District.
“The Agricultural District is a vital part of our community, supporting local farms and helping maintain the rural character of our county,” said Cathy Gatta, Schenectady County Legislature Vice Chair and District 3 Representative (Glenville, Niskayuna, Scotia). “It provides a better economic and regulatory climate for farmers, contributes to the local economy, and helps to ensure that we have access to fresh, local food. Adding new parcels like these to the district will help support sustainable farming practices and future generations of farmers.”
In 2024, the County Legislature authorized adding seven parcels totaling 103.5 acres to the Schenectady County Agricultural District. Since 2021, fifteen parcels totaling over 660 acres of land have been added to the District.
The Schenectady County Agricultural District is currently comprised of 20,175 acres, or nearly fifteen percent of the County’s total land area. Additional information about the Schenectady County Agricultural District is available at https://www.schenectadycountyny.gov/ed-planning/ag-district