MARCH 2021
ONONDAGA COUNTY AGRICULTURE AND FARMLAND PROTECTION BOARD (AFPB)
BRIAN REEVES, CHAIR
CRAIG DENNIS KAY HILSBERG LEE HUDSON
DAN KWASNOWSKI BRIAN MAY
EDWIN SKEELE DAVID SKEVAL
MARK TUCKER DONALD WEBER
SCOTT WINKELMAN
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE SYRACUSE-ONONDAGA COUNTY PLANNING AGENCY
INTRODUCTION
This report presents the findings of the Onondaga County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board’s (AFPB)
2021 review for the addition of viable agricultural land to agricultural districts in Onondaga County. The
Onondaga County Legislature formally designated by Resolution 71 on April 5, 2004 an annual 30-day period in
January when landowners can request that their land be added to an agricultural district.
Viable agricultural land, as defined in NYS Agriculture and Markets Law, Article 25-AA, Section 301, sub.7, is
“…land highly suitable for a farm operation...” and a farm operation as defined in sub.11 is “…the land and on-
farm buildings, equipment, manure processing and handling facilities, and practices which contribute to the
production, preparation and marketing of crops, livestock and livestock products as a commercial enterprise…
NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets provides guidance in how it defines farm operations and thresholds
in determining farm activities to constitute a commercial enterprise, to include factors such as types of
products, acreage in production, gross sales and capital investment, experience and commitment.
The following requested additions are, therefore, examined primarily for the presence and characteristics of
onsite and related commercial farm operations and production opportunities, highly suitable land, location
relative to existing agricultural districts, nearby development and natural features.
REPORT TO THE ONONDAGA COUNTY LEGISLATURE
ANNUAL ADDITION OF VIABLE AGRICULTURAL LANDS
TO NEW YORK STATE CERTIFIED AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS
IN ONONDAGA COUNTY
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LANDOWNER REQUESTS
Landowners have requested that the following parcels be added to agricultural districts within Onondaga
County. (Note, this report does not include parcels requested for addition which have been found to be
currently enrolled in a certified agricultural district.) The proposed 2021 additions occur within Agricultural
Districts 1 and 3.
2021 REQUESTED ADDITIONS
DISTRICT TOWN OWNER PARCEL ACRES*
1 ONONDAGA BRIAN & MEGAN LUTON 056.-01-03.1 7.14
District 1 Total 7.14
3 CLAY JAMES R. HART / JEANNETTE L. LOFTUS HART 023.-01-03.6 25.16
3 CLAY RONALD LEWIS 042.-01-07.0 27.34
3 CLAY JONATHAN LEWIS 042.-01-13.0 29.98
3 CLAY RONALD LEWIS 048.-01-09.0 33.46
3 CLAY RONALD LEWIS 048.-01-10.0 50.47
3 CLAY D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-11.0 116.76
3 CLAY D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-13.0 116.77
3 CLAY D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-18.0 52.04
3 CLAY D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-19.0 10.73
3 ELBRIDGE HOURIGAN FARMS OF ELBRIDGE LLC 028.-01-01.4 24.67
3 ELBRIDGE HOURIGAN FARMS OF ELBRIDGE LLC 028.-01-06.1 16.41
3 ELBRIDGE HOURIGAN FARMS OF ELBRIDGE LLC 029.-01-10.3 62.70
3 ELBRIDGE MARTIN & LYNNE HANKS 029.-02-07.1 60.63
3 ELBRIDGE DIANA SLEIERTIN 029.-03-14.2 6.87
3 ELBRIDGE DIANA SLEIERTIN 029.-03-35.0 1.00
3 ELBRIDGE MICHELLE L SHOPE 037.-01-15.1 153.12
3 LYSANDER HOURIGAN FARMS OF ELBRIDGE LLC 037.-02-05.1 398.78
District 3 Total 1,186.89
GRAND TOTAL 1,194.03
* Calculated using a Geographic Information System, not Real Property Services (RPS) data.
The following section includes a description of the properties requested to be added to Onondaga County
Agricultural Districts, including aerial photography showing the proposed property, existing enrolled
Agricultural District properties (shaded green), and area context.
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DISTRICT 1 REQUESTED ADDITIONS
ONONDAGA (LUTON): The landowners are requesting addition of a 7.14 acre parcel at the corner of Tanner
Rd and Mackyes Roads in the southern portion of the Town of Onondaga. The owner describes that they own
a mixed vegetable/herb/flower farm, as well as some small fruit and keep pastured laying hens. The parcel
includes the owner’s home, equipment barn, wash/pack/distribution space, a heated greenhouse and
unheated hightunnel(s), pasture/range, and over 3 acres of tillable ground served by irrigation and partially
protected by deer fencing. The owner also owns 19.5 acres of related and enrolled land directly across
Mackyes Road (in purple on map below). The site is also adjacent to large agricultural fields currently enrolled
in District 1.
DISTRICT 3 REQUESTED ADDITIONS
CLAY (JAMES R. HART / JEANNETTE L. LOFTUS HART): A 25.16 acre parcel is proposed for addition in the
northern portion of the Town of Clay. Per the request form, the owner operates a horse farm with boarding,
lessons and trail riding activities, and is working toward establishing a commercial horse operation. A memo
from the Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District notes the owner is working with their AEM team
to implement a grazing plan to include a fence system and water line, with the goal to reduce “the potential
for soil and sediment migration into nearby waterbodies and facilitate her capacity to provide revenue
generating activities on the farm”.
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County Planning Board records show the owner previously sought to subdivide the land into six proposed lots
in 2006. The land now shows again as a single 25.16 acre parcel, with a house recently constructed in 2018.
Per 2020 aerial photography, the parcel also appears to contain two small barn structures, horse pasture
areas, partially fenced, and open and wooded lands. An Onondaga County Water District right-of-way
traverses the western portion of the property.
The parcel is separated from a cluster of Agriculture District 3 enrolled parcels to the west by State Route 481.
Surrounding land is a mix of rural and suburban land uses, including vacant, wooded parcels, large lot housing
and agricultural fields. The entirety of the parcel appears to contain Prime Soils and/or Prime Soils if Drained.
CLAY (R LEWIS, J LEWIS, J & L WHEELER): A cluster of 8 parcels with three separate owners are seeking
addition to Agricultural District 3 in the northern portion of Clay. In all, the owners are requesting addition of
437.55 acres of land. Due to the similarity of circumstances and location, they will be summarized together.
The below graphic shows existing agricultural district enrolled lands shaded in green. The yellow outlined are
is the border of the White Pines Commerce Park. The blue outlined parcels are those seeking inclusion in the
district, color coded by owner. (see table on next page)
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This area in northern Clay sits near the boundary with the Town of Cicero, shown with the black line on the
preceding map. The area is characterized by large lot, vacant, wooded and agricultural land, and large lot
housing. Northern Clay has historically been a rural environment, with scattered agricultural, large lot
residential uses and open land. In more recent years, suburban development has occurred to the north,
stemming from the hamlet of Brewerton, and to the south, largely south of NYS Route 31. Town land use
planning has focused somewhat on restricting suburban style growth in the remaining undeveloped northern
portions of the Town.
However, the evolution of the White Pines Commerce Park (in yellow on map) has affected land use and
infrastructure planning in recent years. The Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency has secured
ownership of over 300 acres of land proximate to rail and electric power infrastructure in order to market the
land for new high-tech job creating industries. The County has been purchasing additional new parcels of land
recently in order to meet the needs of prospective tenants. Another component of the White Pines site
preparation is the provision of public sewer service to the site. The County is currently researching options for
routing of sewer infrastructure from the Oak Orchard Treatment Plant to the northwest of the Commerce
Park, but has not yet made final siting decisions, so it is unclear whether parcels seeking Agricultural District
protections would be affected by infrastructure changes in the area. As the above map shows, several of the
parcels requesting inclusion into Agricultural District 3 directly abut the White Pines Commerce Park.
The Wheeler family owned lands, shown in dark blue, total 296
acres across 4 parcels. The request form indicates the farm
raises a 46-cow herd of organic Polled Hereford Cows for food
and sale of cows. Some land is rented for hay, and excess hay
is also sold to local horse farms. Gross income ranges from $6-
8,000 annually. The land has two homes, a barn, 2 ponds and
accessory buildings, and is fenced. The owner notes they have
worked with the Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation
District to reseed some of the pastures and hay fields. In
addition to pasture and hay fields, Young’s Creek and
associated state and federal wetlands appear on portions of
the site, as does wooded land.
OWNER PARCEL ACRES*
JONATHAN LEWIS 042.-01-13. 29.98
RONALD LEWIS 0042.-01-07.0 27.34
RONALD LEWIS 048.-01-09.0 33.46
RONALD LEWIS 048.-01-10.0 50.47
D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-11.0 116.76
D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-13.0 116.77
D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-18.0 52.04
D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-19.0 10.73
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The Lewis family is requesting addition of 141
acres between lands owned by Ronald Lewis (111
acres) and Jonathan Lewis (30 acres). The
applicants note most of the property has been in
the family for 100 years and has been continuously
used for farming since the first half of the 19th
century, and has been naturally fertilized and
maintained since clearing, with well drained soils.
The two larger parcels are used for cattle barns,
hay storage and pasture. Jonathan Lewis’ property
contains horse pasture and hay fields with two
barns. The farm currently has 60 head of Black
Angus cattle that are sold direct to consumer and
at auction for feeder stock. Local stables purchase
approximately 50 tons of hay annually, and gross sales average $12-15,000 per year. Young’s Creek flows
through the southern parcels, along with associated limited wetlands primarily along the creek. Three houses
are present on the subject parcels.
ELBRIDGE (HOURIGAN FARMS OF ELBRIDGE LLC): The Hourigan Farms of Elbridge are seeking addition of four
parcels, three in the Town of Elbridge totaling 104 acres, and a 399-acre parcel in the Town of Lysander. The
addition form notes the owners raise crops (hay, soybeans, corn, green beans, wheat) on these lands. The
land is stated to have always been worked as farm land, with a combination of prime and statewide soils. No
non-agricultural uses of the land are described.
Each of these parcels sits in proximity to lands also held by the Hourigan Farms of Elbridge and protected from
development via a Farmland Protection Implementation Grant from New York State. Each of the parcels
contains a sizeable acreage of actively farmed croplands. The 25- and 16-acre parcels lie along the Old Erie
Canal and Canalway Trail/Empire State Trail. The Erie Canal is a historic waterway, along which the State and
Elbridge 029.-01-10.3 (63 acres)
Elbridge 028.-01-01.4 (25 acres) Elbridge 028.-01-06.1 (16 acres) Lysander 037.-02-05.1 (399 acres)
Elbridge 029.-01-10.3 (63 acres)
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local communities are currently partnering to establish and improve a statewide trail and waterway system,
intended to attract recreation and tourism.
ELBRIDGE (MARTIN & LYNNE HANKS): The owner of Willoughby Farm is requesting addition of this 61-acre
parcel in the northern portion of the Town of Elbridge. The land is leased to a local dairy to raise feed, corn
and alfalfa. The request form notes the tilled and wooded property has been used for agriculture for over a
century. The property lies just west of two other parcels being requested for addition by the Hourigan Farms of
Elbridge.
Surrounding land uses are a mix of agricultural fields, swampland, and roadside residential. The site abuts the
Old Erie Canal and Canalway Trail. The parcel is bisected by a portion of Carpenter’s Brook, connecting the
nearby Old Erie Canal to the Seneca River. Associated state and federal wetlands are shown on portions of the
parcel, and floodplain associated with the Brook also occurs on site adjacent to the waterway.
ELBRIDGE (SLEIERTON): The owner of 980 Schaap Road in the Town of Elbridge is requesting the addition of
two parcels, a 6.87-acre parcel and a smaller adjacent rear landlocked parcel (0.94 acres) which was acquired
in 2019 by the applicant. The site is located in a transitional rural area with a mix of land uses in the northern
portion of the Town of Elbridge. Surrounding land uses include woods, vegetated land and wetland, scattered
agricultural uses, a former landfill and roadside residential. Zoning of the parcel and its surroundings is
primarily Agricultural (A) zoning, mixed with nearby Municipal (M) and rural residential (RR) zoning. The
property is adjacent to the Old Erie Canal and Canalway Trail, which borders the northern edge of the parcel.
May 2020 Aerial photography shows the site is developed at its frontage, with the remaining approximately 6
acres being flat, wooded land. The front of the parcel includes a house and detached garage, large areas of
outdoor storage, and various areas of fencing and small structures. The owner notes that she is rebuilding and
renovating the residential structures after a fire. Aerial photos show what appears to be beekeeping boxes
along the northern portion of the parcel.
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The above aerial photo below on the left indicates Agricultural District enrollment in the area south of the
proposed parcel, generally on lands occurring south of Peru Road. The photo on the right includes layers
indicating the presence of state (yellow) and federal (green) wetlands, and FEMA flood plains (pink). Wetland
boundaries encroach slightly onto portions of the site. These wetland areas separate the subject land and
adjacent parcels from actively farmed lands and lands enrolled in the district.
The Agricultural District Request Form asks how much of each parcel is used for agriculture – these questions
were left blank. The owner response to how the parcel is used for commercial agriculture included “growing
garlic, sumac and spearmint for sale at farmers market; fresh chicken eggs also farmer’s market – sublet to
apiary for small business honey farmers”. As in previous years, the applicant states she intends to pursue
various activities for farmer’s market products including spearmint, garlic and eggs, but does not yet appear to
be conducting commercial sales or harvest of products.
The following is a brief overview of cited current and potential agricultural activity:
Chickens: The chicken flock is noted to now yield 1-2 dozen eggs per day, as was stated in the 2020
application.
Garlic & Spearmint: “Crops of garlic will be encouraged and harvested and sold at farmer’s market”;
“Crops of spearmint are growing copiously and ready for harvest”; “Both of these crops just started
growing, having previously been flooded out by excessive rain and flooding caused by the canal
overflow”.
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Sumac: provide berries for use as organic animal feed – available for sale at Farmer’s market, as well
as for holistic teas, jams and skin care products – to be made available at Farmer’s market.”
Goats: notes goats (currently 5) on premises since 2014; goats noted to have penned access and roam
in the field and woods; used at local events; noted as used for weed eating on at least 3 local
properties to remove overgrowth and noxious weeds, as was stated in prior years.
Bee Hives: Hives, visible in aerial photos, are noted as placed annually by the Perry Family, The
Beekeeper’s Daughter.
It does not appear that agricultural activity has changed significantly since the 2019 or 2020 Ag District
reviews, and activity appears to be minimal and more hobby farm activity in nature. It is unclear whether the
landowner is realizing any measurable sales or income from the abovementioned activities, often citing that
the products could be sold at a farmer’s market. The owner notes in the current application “Farmers market
sales have not yet begun, because I am in fear of yet ANOTHER ToE [Town of Elbridge] violation for “running a
business from my home” – as has happened before – yet again substantiating the reason for protections under
Ag districting.”
To describe what makes the land highly suitable for agriculture, the owner referred potential timber use and
hunting, and to previous submitted information regarding USDA Growing Zones (Zone 5), and NC State
Extension and Cornell periodicals regarding use of goats for weed control.
The owner has a history of conflict with the Town and neighbors regarding conditions of the property,
habitability and/or repair of the house, keeping of animals, and storage of refuse on the parcel. Aerial
photography from May 2020 shows a significant number of small structures and storage areas at the front of
the site, however, in a February 2021 conversation with the Town of Elbridge Codes Office, nearly all code
violations have been addressed.
The applicant expressed to Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency (SOCPA) staff in 2019 that she would
like Agricultural District protections in part to help defend against complaints by the Town and neighbors. The
2020 and 2021 submission continues to note that they are seeking reprieve from private nuisance of
neighbor’s harassment, and spurious town code violations. The nature of the alleged harassment and code
violations do not appear to involve commercial agricultural activities that might be offered protection by
enrollment in the Agricultural Districts program.
ELBRIDGE (SHOPE): A single parcel (153 acres) at the corner of State Street Road (County Route 5) and Fikes
Road, just east of the Village of Elbridge is proposed. The land is currently leased and farmed by Gemini Farms
(John & Nancy Hourigan), to provide feed for the dairy farm, planting hay, alfalfa and occasionally corn on the
land. The owner also uses non-farmed portions of the property for recreation. The parcel is largely
surrounded by agricultural lands enrolled in the Agricultural District. The farmed lands are buffered from
2018
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adjacent development to the west by forested lands on site. Carpenter’s Brook runs through portions of the
site, as do associated wetlands and floodplain.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The farm sector in Onondaga County is strong and stable and the Onondaga County Agricultural and Farmland
Protection Plan, Onondaga County 2010 Development Guide and municipal planning documents identify
protection of agriculture and farmland as an important goal for preserving the character of rural areas.
As mentioned in the Introduction to this report, the requested additions were examined primarily for the
presence and characteristics of onsite and related commercial farm operations and production opportunities,
highly suitable land, location relative to existing agricultural districts, nearby development and natural
features.
While some existing and proposed activities on site may be characterized as agricultural in nature, the
requested tax parcels 029.-03-14.2 and 029.-03-35.0 in the Town of Elbridge do not currently exhibit the
abovementioned characteristics in a manner to justify inclusion in the District at this time. The noted
agricultural production opportunities do not appear at this time to constitute a potential commercial farm
enterprise by NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets guidance, in terms of scale, sales, assets and
investment, experience and other factors used by the department in provision of Agricultural District
protections, nor does the land appear at this time to be affiliated with another nearby commercial farm
enterprise. As such, this parcel is not recommended to the County Legislature for addition to Agricultural
District 3.
The Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board recommends adding the remaining 16 requested parcels to
Agricultural Districts 1 and 3, as they have demonstrated all or most of the abovementioned desired
characteristics. The total acreage being recommended for addition is 1,186.16 acres. The Board notes its
recommendations to the Onondaga County Legislature in the following table:
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2021 RECOMMENDED ADDITIONS
DISTRICT TOWN OWNER PARCEL ACRES*
1 ONONDAGA BRIAN & MEGAN LUTON 056.-01-03.1 7.14
District 1 Total 7.14
3 CLAY JAMES R. HART / JEANNETTE L. LOFTUS HART 023.-01-03.6 25.16
3 CLAY RONALD LEWIS 042.-01-07.0 27.34
3 CLAY JONATHAN LEWIS 042.-01-13.0 29.98
3 CLAY RONALD LEWIS 048.-01-09.0 33.46
3 CLAY RONALD LEWIS 048.-01-10.0 50.47
3 CLAY D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-11.0 116.76
3 CLAY D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-13.0 116.77
3 CLAY D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-18.0 52.04
3 CLAY D. JAMES & LINDA L. WHEELER 048.-01-19.0 10.73
3 ELBRIDGE HOURIGAN FARMS OF ELBRIDGE LLC 028.-01-01.4 24.67
3 ELBRIDGE HOURIGAN FARMS OF ELBRIDGE LLC 028.-01-06.1 16.41
3 ELBRIDGE HOURIGAN FARMS OF ELBRIDGE LLC 029.-01-10.3 62.70
3 ELBRIDGE MARTIN & LYNNE HANKS 029.-02-07.1 60.63
3 ELBRIDGE MICHELLE L SHOPE 037.-01-15.1 153.12
3 LYSANDER HOURIGAN FARMS OF ELBRIDGE LLC 037.-02-05.1 398.78
District 3 Total 1,179.02
GRAND TOTAL 1,186.16
Two requested parcels are not recommended for addition in 2021 (Elbridge, 029.-03-14.2 and 029.-03-35.0).
* Calculated using a Geographic Information System (GIS), not Real Property Services (RPS) data.
APPENDICES
Resolution - Annual 30-Day
Form - Annual Additions Request
Resolution - Public Hearing Notice
Notice - Public Hearing Notice
Letter - Public Hearing Landowner
Minutes - Public Hearing
Resolution - Approval
Map – Annual Additions Map
SEQRA - Environmental Assessment Form
O n e i d a L a k e
O n o n d a g a L a k e
Oti s
c
oL
ak
e
S k a n e a t e l e s L a k e
Cro
ss
La
ke
§̈¦90
§̈¦90
§̈¦81
§̈¦81
§̈¦690
§̈¦690
§̈¦481
§̈¦481
41
2
3
3037.-01-15.1
029.-01-10.3
056.-01-03.1
028.-01-01.4
028.-01-06.1
029.-02-07.1
037.-02-05.1
023.-01-03.6
042.-01-13.0
042.-01-07.0
048.-01-09.0
048.-01-10.0
048.-01-11.0
048.-01-13.0
048.-01-18.0
048.-01-19.0
ONONDAGA
NATION
Baldwinsvi l le
Solvay
Manl ius
Minoa
Jordan
Fayettevi l le
Skaneateles
Tul ly
Elbr idge
NorthSyracuse
EastSyracuse
Liverpool
Marcel lus
Fabius
Camillus
C L A Y
P O M P E Y
C I C E R O
F A B I U S
L Y S A N D E R
M A N L I U S
O N O N D A G A D E W I T T
T U L L Y
O T I S C O
L A F A Y E T T E
E L B R I D G E
S P A F F O R D
C A M I L L U S
S K A N E A T E L E S
V A N B U R E N
M A R C E L L U S
S Y R A C U S E
S A L I N A
G E D D E S
´
Onondaga County Agricultural Districts
2021 Recommended Additions
LEGE ND
2021 Recommended Additions
Agricultural District 3
Agricultural District 4
Agricultural District 1
Agricultural District 2
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