Town acquires development rights to Amity-area farm for $1.28 million

Warwick — In conjunction with both the Orange County Land Trust and Scenic Hudson Land Trust, the Town of Warwick has purchased the development rights to the 293-acre Brown/Felton farm in Amity for $1.28 million. The farm is located in the Amity Wetlands region off Prices Switch Road. It is a beef cattle and hay farm owned by Will Brown and Barbara Felton.. According to the Orange County Land Trust, the natural resources of this property consist of extensive frontage along the Pochuck Creek, 100- and 50-year flood plains, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation-designated wetlands and federally designated wetlands. This conservation easement was crafted to ensure protection and compatibility of both the agricultural viability and these significant natural resources. “This cattle and hay operation includes not only productive farmland but extraordinary biodiversity areas that contain many species of valuable plants and animals,” said Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton. “I would like to commend the Browns for their commitment to farming as well as our environmental resources.” The town has made open space preservation a priority. After approving a $9.5 million Purchase of Development Rights referendum in 2000, last year voters again said yes to a 0.75 percent transfer tax on all real estate transactions throughout the town. The money from that tax will go into a Community Preservation Fund and will be used for future purchases of development rights to preserve open space. This purchase of development rights cost the town $827,271.30. Scenic Hudson Land Trust contributed $300,691, while Orange County Land Trust chipped in $165,000. “I am pleased that the Town of Warwick has been able to secure the development rights to the Brown Farm which not only protects another 293 acres of active farmland but also helps reduce the burden of the negative tax effect of residential development on  property taxes,” said Sweeton. Executives with both the Orange County Land Trust and Scenic Hudson also praised the purchase. “Will and Barbara have made a wonderful gift to the land and to the community,” said Land Trust Executive Director Jim Delaune. “Their property is especially significant due to its location, valuable farmland and significant resources.” “The Town of Warwick is one of the Hudson Valley’s bright lights when it comes to protecting its agricultural base, and we are pleased to have worked in partnership to conserve this productive farm,” said Steve Rosenberg, executive director of Scenic Hudson. “We are grateful to the town for its leadership, and to Mr. Brown and Ms. Felton for their commitment to keeping their farm intact for future generations.” This latest conservation easement is the Orange County Land Trust’s 21st project in Orange County. To date, the Orange County Land Trust has conserved more than 2,900 acres through the use of conservation easements and the establishment of eight nature preserves that are open for the public to enjoy. The Brown and Felton farm is the fifth working farm in the Town of Warwick that Scenic Hudson has partnered with the town to protect since 2004. The organization has helped preserve more than 700 acres here. This is the 11th farm to which the development rights have been purchased by the town. This brings the total of preserved land in the town to about 1,500 acres.