Town imposes three-month moratorium on ag overlay zone

BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WARWICK — The Town of Warwick has imposed a three-month moratorium on all requests and applications having to do with the Agricultural Protection Overlay District, providing time for a review of the provision by the town planner.
The town created this overlay zone in 2002 to protect and maintain farmland and to support farming.
“The key here is to ensure we are consistent with our Comprehensive Plan,” said Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton. “That is critical because, if not, we could be challenged.”
Having a farm market on the premises is one benefit of being in the APO District, Sweeton said.
Bob Krahulik, a local attorney, said he was speaking on behalf of Don Oriolo, owner of Blue Arrow Farm on Glenwood Road. Krahulik urged the board to move quickly, saying it would be very disappointing if the moratorium extended an additional 90 days, bringing it into the winter.
“Many farmers have invested in their property and some feel the rug is being pulled out from under them,” said Krahulik, adding he was not necessarily there to oppose the moratorium.
Oriolo, he said, has a number of permits to renovate or construct agricultural buildings on his farm as well as an application before the planning board for a farm market. These are all allowed under the current zoning and have nothing to do with the APO, he said.
Sweeton said this moratorium will not affect any applications before the planning board.

‘It makes sense’

In opening the public hearing, Sweeton said a lot of uses now in the district did not exist when the district was created.
“It makes sense for the town to make sure that it is consistent, and that’s what we’re going to do and we’re doing it in an expedited manner,” Sweeton said.
The moratorium was referred to the town’s planning board, which had no objection to it. It was also sent to the county planning board, which suggested extending the moratorium to the spring.
“We disagree with the county’s comments,” said Sweeton. “We appreciate their input, but we’ll do our job in time.”
Currently two applications are pending before the town board to be included in the APO District. All applications received over the past five years, about a dozen, have been approved.

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