{Note: formatting of the original file was lost during posting by new updating system}
AGRICULTURECOMMISSION
April16, 20l2 - 7:00PM
ColchesterTown Hall
Room3
MEETINGAGENDA
1. Call to order
- Additions to the Agenda
- Approve Minutes of the April 3, 2012 Agriculture Commission Meeting
- Citizens comments
- Chair report
- Old business:
- a. Discussion and possible action on draft of Colchester Farmland Preservation Ranking Criteria (attached below).
- b. Discussion and possible action on other issues in reference to Slembeck Farm Bonding.
- c. Quick review of old action items (that have been tabled until Slembeck Farm is purchased):
(1) Bylaws draft completed by Dave; Chair to forward to members for feedback.
(2) Liz to contact towns of Guilford, Thompson and Sterling about their procedures for handling farmers' concerns and complaints.
(3) Change in 490A acreage requirements.
(4) Letter re Slow Food Movement from Bacon Student,; feedback to originator? Commission action?
(5) Outstandingrecommendations from 2007 Farmland Viability Study Top Seven List(note: (1) Right-to-farm act and (2) Agriculture Commission arealready in place):
i. For zoning and tax purposes, broaden right to farm policy to allow farms by right to engage in business activities that are not traditional farming but are related to or consistent with farming.
ii. Investigate the tax rates for the 490 program with the goal of adhering to the current CT Dept of Agriculture guidelines for valuations of all farmland in town.
iii. Authorize additional tax exemptions that the state allows for farm machinery (beyond the original $100,000 exemptions), farm buildings and extra property tax abatements on certain types of farms.
iv. Involve the Colchester school system in farm awareness programs as a means of stemming future problems as well as educate local students about the role of Colchester's farms in food production and their community.
v. Make it easier for farmers to obtain and maintain (with a sense of security) the agricultural tax status 490A and 490
- New business
- a. Any other new business deemed necessary.
- Adjournment
DRAFTDRAFT 4/13/12 DRAFT DRAFT
Landowner:_______________________________
Municipality:______________________________
Dateof Ranking: ___________________________
Townof Colchester, Connecticut - Agriculture Commission
FarmlandRanking System Score Sheet
LandEvaluation and Site Assessment System
Points Weighted Value
LandEvaluation 100 40%
SiteAssessment
DevelopmentPotential 100 10%
FarmlandPotential 100 25 %
ClusteringPotential 100 25 %
ScoringSummary
LandEvaluation _______ x 0.40 = _______
SiteAssessment
DevelopmentPotential _______ x 0.10 = _______
FarmlandPotential _______ x 0.25 = _______
ClusterPotential _______ x 0.25 = _______
FinalWeighted Score = _______
SITEASSESSMENT (Maximum300 Points)
DevelopmentPotential (Maximum100 Points)
D1.Extent of non-agricultural land use within one mile of tract
40Points x ________ = ________ (Max 40 Points)
(%non-agriculture land use in surrounding area)
Percent to be rounded to a multiple of 5
D2.Road Frontage - Linear Measure
Morethan one mile 40 Points
1/2mile – 1 mile 25 Points
Lessthan 1/2 mile 5 Points
D3.Availability of Public Sewer
Tracthas sewer service adjacent 10 Points
Tracthas sewer service within one mile 5 Points
D4.Availability of Public Water
Tracthas public water service adjacent 10 Points
Tracthas public water service within one mile 5 Points
TotalPoints Development Potential ________ (Max 100 Points)
FarmlandPotential (Maximum100 Points)
F1.Size of Farm
151acres or more 25 Points
126-150acres 20 Points
101-125acres 15 Points
76-100 acres 10 Points
50-75 acres 5 Points
F2.Percent of Tract Used for Cropland, Pasture or Grazing
25Points X ________ =________ (Max 25 Points)
(% of tract used for crops, pasture or grazing)
Percentto be rounded to a multiple of 5
F3.Conservation Practices/Stewardship of Land
Noscore will be awarded under this factor unless sound soil and waterconservation practices are in place with respect to at least 50% ofthe tract. The implementation of soil erosion control, sedimentationcontrol, nutrient management and other practices demonstrating goodstewardship of the tract shall be considered. This factor evaluatesthe implementation of the conservation plan on the tract.
75-100% plan implementation 20 points
50- 75% plan implementation 10 points
Lessthan 50% plan implementation 0 points
F4.Historic, Scenic and Environmental Qualities (Maximum10 Points)
Tractis adjacent to land preserved via the National 10 Points
ParkService, State Game Commission, State Forest,
StatePark, State Fish & Boat Commission, a local
governmentunit or other land conservation organization.
Tractcontains environmentally sensitive features 10 Points
includingbut not limited to streams, wetlands,
floodplains,steep slopes, ConnecticutNaturalDiversity
Inventory[verify terminology here]sites,etc.
Farmis listed on the National Register of Historic 10 Points
Places
F5.Percentage of Farm Offered for Easement Purchase
100%of deeded acreage 10 Points
Lessthan 100% of deeded acreage 0 Points
F6.Family Farm
Propertyis operated by the owner or immediate family member 10 Points
Propertyis not operated by the owner or immediate family member 0 Points
TotalPoints Farmland Potential ________ (Max 100 Points)
ClusterPotential (Maximum100 points)
C1. Proximity to a farm with a perpetual agricultural conservationeasement
recordedin the Town of Colchester Recorder of Deeds Office.
Adjacent 40 Points
Within1/2 mile 30 Points
Within1 mile 20 Points
C2. Consistent with the planning and development map and the
ColchesterConservation Plan. A farm located in more than one
zonewill be ranked according to the zone with the highest point value.
Zone1 [check terminology here] 30 Points
Zone2 20 Points
Zone3 10 Points
PlannedGrowth Area 0 Points
C3.Percent of land bordering tract is enrolled in an officialAgricultural Security Area [?].
30Points x ______(%of land bordering tract in ASA*) = ________ (Max 30 Points)
*Percentto be rounded to a multiple of 5
TotalPoints Cluster Potential ________ (Max 100 Points)
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