Three local properties are among six that Westchester County's Board of Legislators approved to join the county's existing agricultural district.
The sites announced that the board are Sun Raven Farm (at 501 Guard Hill Road in Bedford), Mill Pond Farm (at 121 Stone Hill Road in Bedford) Gossett Brothers Nursery, which is at 1202 Route 35 in Lewisboro.
The sites' respective sizes are 4 acres, 24.79 acres and 5.50 acres. The other three selected properties are in North Salem.
“It makes sense in terms of protecting our environment and maintaining open space in Westchester for the Board of Legislators to approve this increase in the County Agricultural District,” Majority Leader Peter Harckham (D-North Salem), said in a statement. “Farming should remain a viable economic activity in Westchester, where appropriate, and this legislative action keeps farmland in active use and gives farm owners certain protections under New York State’s Right to Farm laws.”
The purpose of the agricultural district, the board of legislators states in a press release, is to protect natural resources and to have a system of open space.
“Also, with the growing interest in locally produced, healthy, farm fresh food, the importance of agriculture to the northern Westchester economy and job growth simply cannot be understated," Harckham, whose district includes all of the sites, added in his statement.
Being part of the district, which is connected to a New York state program, allows for the county to obtain grants on behalf of the properties.
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