Town Board approves lease agreements for agricultural use of farmland.

PUBLIC NOTICE





RESOLUTION #2026-018

TOWN OF BETHLEHEM




RESOLUTION TO APPROVE

NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN that the Town Board of the Town of Bethlehem in the County of Albany, State of New York has on the 8th day of April 2026, duly adopted, a resolution as follows:




WHEREAS, the Town intends to lease 3 tracts of viable farmland for agricultural use consisting of approximately 120 acres and bearing tax map parcel #’s: 132.00-2-14.2, 109.00-3-9, 109.00-3-10, and 121.00-3-8.1 (hereinafter the "Premises"); and




WHEREAS, the Town solicited interest from farmers to conduct agricultural activities on the Premises through a Request for Applications, which consisted of a 28-day application period; and




WHEREAS, after reviewing 7 applications, the Department of Economic Development and Planning determined the following applicants (lessees) best met the criteria outlined in the Request for Applications and at the April 8, 2026 Town Board meeting recommended the Town Board approve lease agreements:




· 11.5 acres on Wylie Lane Selkirk (132.00-2-14.2) Jon and April Audietis, Farmer Jon’s Farm Market, 5-year term




· 13.5 acres on Wemple Road, Glenmont (Portion of 109.00-3-9 and 109.00-3-10) Richard Daley, Sunray Community Farm, 3-year term




· 107.5 acres on Clapper Road Selkirk (121.00-3-8.1) Michael Stanton, Stanton Farms, 3- year term




WHEREAS, the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York (the "Town"), is a distinctive community in which active farms help to create a diverse landscape and contribute to our regional economy; and




WHEREAS, the Town’s Comprehensive Plan (2022), Recommendations on Open Space Needs and Opportunities (2009), Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan (2009), Open Space Plan- Conservation Criteria (2017), and Open Space and Farmland Conservation Opinion Survey (2018) all recommended that the Town take action toward ensuring viable farmland is available for farming; and




WHEREAS, the Town’s Historic Heath Farm Initiative Vision Plan (2025) recommends that: 1) the Town should make all Town-owned agricultural lands available for continued farm use, 2) the Town should pursue a variety of opportunities to offer secure land tenure to farmers; and




WHEREAS, the Lessees desire to conduct agricultural activities within the Premises; and




WHEREAS, the intent of this lease agreement is to ensure that the Premises continues to be maintained for agricultural use; and




WHEREAS, New York State Town Law Section 64, Chapter 62, Article 4 states that Towns may, upon adoption of a resolution, lease real property in the name of the town, subject to permissive referendum.




NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to execute the aforementioned lease agreements, subject to permissive referendum.




A motion to adopt the resolution was offered by Councilmember Schnurr, seconded by Councilmember Cunningham and adopted by the following vote:

AYES: Supervisor VanLuven, Councilmember Becker, Councilmember Cunningham, Councilmember DeCancio and Councilmember Schnurr

NOES: none

ABSENT: none

DATED: April 8, 2026