Public hearing on the Milo Agricultural Farmland Preservation Project scheduled for February 23, 2026.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 
UNDER THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE LAW, 
PROPOSED MILO AGRICULTURAL FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROJECT 



Notice is hereby given that a public hearing (the “Public Hearing”), pursuant to Article 2 of the New York State Eminent Domain Procedure Law, will be held by the Town of Milo (the “Town”) on the 23rd day of February, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., local time, at the Town of Milo Town Hall, 137 Main Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527 in connection with Milo Agricultural Preservation Project, as described below.




The Town is considering undertaking a public project (the “Project”), said Project consisting of the following:




(1) the acquisition of property interests in approximately 72.76+/- acres of land [and agricultural conservation easement] located in the Town of Milo, Yates County, New York (the “Property”):






 

Address

Tax Map Number

2442 Old Route 14A

Town of Milo, Yates County, NY

61.02-1-6.11






(2) to preserve open space and agricultural resources, protect and promote continuation of agriculture in the Town, encourage farming and to ensure the rural character of the area (“Project”) which furthers the goals of:




(i) the 2023 Yates County Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan to minimize conversion of farmland from residential development to tourism, second homes and short-term rental housing due to the “potential to take farmland out of production” and specifically “discouraging residential developments on large lots and encouraging density averaging (“cluster”) subdivision designs.” (See p. 48);

(ii) the Town Comprehensive Plan, Community Character Goals 1 and 2 of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan to preserve the rural agrarian landscape of the Town of Milo, and natural beauty created by the landscape, protect the key scenic and open space resources of the Town for the enjoyment of present and future generations , and to preserve for future generations the prime agricultural soils and soils of statewide importance in the Town;

(iii) the State of New York’s express public policy “…to promote, foster, and encourage the agricultural industry” which is “basic to the life” and “vitally concerns and affects the welfare, health, economic well-being and productive and industrial capabilities"” of NY residents (see Agriculture and Markets Law §3); and

(iv) preservation of “open space” or “open area” to protect natural scenic beauty that would maintain or enhance the conservation of natural or scenic resources such as “agricultural lands defined as open lands actually used in bona fide agricultural production” supports acquisition by a condemning authority (see General Municipal Law 247 (1)-(2)); and

(v) to maintain a green space buffer between town residents and the Village of Penn Yan at the northern end of the town .




Acquisition of the above-described Property will include acquisition of land, buildings and other improvements and agricultural conservation easement, if any, situated thereon; and all other real property interests of any kind or nature.




The public hearing is intended to inform the property owner(s) and the public about the proposed acquisition of the above-described Property and to outline and review the public use, benefit and purpose to be served by the Project. The property owner(s) and public are invited to attend the public hearing and to present oral and/or written statements or other documents concerning this matter.




Please be advised that pursuant to Article 2 of the EDPL, any property owners who may subsequently wish to challenge condemnation of their property via judicial review may do so only on the basis of issues, facts and objections raised at such hearing.




For additional information, please contact Town of Milo, 137 Main Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527; telephone 315.536-8911 and electronic mail at clerk@townofmilo.com .




Dated: December 19, 2025

TOWN OF MILO




By:

Town Clerk



Published in The Chronicle-Express February 5, 12, 2026.

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