Town of Clifton Park Continues to Protect Farmland Farmland Protection Plan Advisory Committee Established and Right to Farm Signs Going Up Throughout Town

Town of Clifton Park Continues to Protect Farmland
Farmland Protection Plan Advisory Committee Established and Right to Farm Signs Going Up Throughout Town

The Town of Clifton Park is proud of our farming community and the positive impact farms have had for generations.  We continue to support our farms and build on the successful efforts of permanently preserving four working farms, offering tax incentives for large landowners, the annual Farm Fest, the newly established initiative and committee to develop a Farm Preservation Plan and most recently a request by Councilwoman Agatha Reid to have Right to Farm signs posted throughout Town.

Clifton Park kicked off its Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan on July 17, 2024, at Historic Grooms Tavern with an initial meeting of its advisory committee and consultant team led by Nan Stolzenburg of Community Planning and Environmental Associates. The committee is comprised of town board members, residents and landowners, town staff and committee members.

The planning process will include three phases:
1. Learning about what is the current state of agricultural resources, community resources and natural resources including learning about community interest and support for farming.
2. Creating the community vision and goals and setting a direction for the future.
3. Deciding “what to do” through strategies, programs, regulatory challenges, grants, and projects.

This project will take into consideration all that the town has done in the past, understand the past work and community support, and integrate this knowledge into the current work.

“The Town of Clifton Park is building on our efforts of the last 25 years that included exponentially expanding our parks network, permanently protecting 2,000 acres of property and completing long range planning studies to guide the future of our Town, said Town Supervisor Phil Barrett.  The new Farmland Protection study will provide additional resources and ideas to further our efforts to assist our working farms and add to the list of four farms we have already partnered with to permanently remain a vital part of our agricultural community.”

The current effort will be focused on a deeper analysis of the realm of farming, farms and open lands, economics, and what the community’s vision and strategies are for the future. The Town was awarded a $25,000 funding grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets towards conducting the municipal agricultural and farmland protection plan. Nan Stolzenburg said, “the planning process is integral to creating what will be an action plan. The goal is to complete the plan by Fall 2025, allowing time for a robust range of public participation.”

The committee is working on ideas for reaching the public through surveys, meetings, open houses, and Farm Fest. The project will include outreach and engagement with farmers, farmland owners, large landowners, and agricultural support businesses and agencies. Everyone throughout the community is invited to be involved in the creation of the vision, goals and public plan leading to actions.

The Town of Clifton Park has Right to Farm law in the town code.  Right to Farm laws protect farmers through their land use and farming practices and help to promote a strong agricultural community. The addition of Right to Farm signs to our community was a logical next step in promoting the agricultural aspects of our town. This may be a small step, but it builds on what the town has already done over the past two decades and continues to do to support local agriculture. “Agriculture not only creates local jobs, but it also puts food on our tables. We all need to eat, so supporting farms is in essence supporting every other leg of the economy, and I am so proud to be in a community that understands and recognizes this. We will continue to do everything in our power to support farmers,” said Councilwoman Reid.

Right to Farm signs have been installed by the Highway Department at the intersections of Grooms Road and Riverview Road, Hubbs Road and Schauber Road, and at the Clifton Park/Halfmoon town line on Ushers Road. Additional signs will be installed on Hatlee Road at the Clifton Park/Ballston Town line, on Longkill Road where Longkill Road becomes Eastline Road at the Clifton Park/Malta Town line, on Route 146 at the Rexford Bridge, on Glenridge Road at the Clifton Park/Glenville Town line, and on Riverview Road at the Clifton Park/Halfmoon Town line.

Clifton Park’s Farm Fest, an event that focuses on the agricultural aspects of the town, will be held September 14-15 at a variety of locations around town.  For more information on Farm Fest please go to Farm Fest - Town of Clifton Park Official Website.