A new agritourism law meant to preserve farmland and implement the recommendations of “Vision 20/20,” the Town of Montgomery’s Comprehensive Plan, could be just a week away from adoption.

Agritourism is a growing trend and includes any activity happening on a farm that serves the public recreationally or even educationally. The law aims to maintain these practices while also emphasizing the right to farm, which gives farmers authorization to engage in agricultural activities at all times.

More specifically, the law has goals to set recommendations to “Preserve at least 1,000 more acres of working farmland and/or ecologically sensitive lands by 2030, relieve viable existing agricultural uses from undue development pressure, and increase value of land for agricultural use by facilitating complementary and accessory uses.”

The law has many definitions surrounding agritourism, including “agricultural supportive business,” “agriculture,” “agritourism,” “farm operation,” and more.

Last week the town held a public hearing for the law, and Attorney for the Town William Frank mentioned some changes happening to the law considering recommendations from the town planning board.

“The feeling of the group is to narrow the scope so just those properties within the agriculture district would be subject to the agritourism law,” said Frank. This means the law wouldn’t apply to all farming properties within the town.

Councilwoman Kristen Brown gave context on why they are doing this.

“The reason why we chose parcels in the agricultural district is because the County Protection Board actually reviews those parcels when they get entered into the Agricultural district. Land parcels are put into the agricultural district so that way they are afforded certain protections under the Right to Farm law which is a New York state law. So moving forward, that is like a vetting way that we can say, ‘Okay, well these parcels are actively farmed parcels,’” said Brown.

Another addition is the choice of public hearings for certain projects under agritourism. The law currently says there is no requirement for a public hearing for projects, according to Frank.

“We’re going to put in the options for the board, either the planning board or the town board, whoever is going to be reviewing particular applications; to have the option to hold the public hearing when necessary, because we do feel that the public should have the chance to participate are comment on individual applications,” Frank mentioned.

Agritourism needs to work in conjunction with the primary agricultural use of the property, so you’re not supposed to bring in more money from agritourism over your farming operations. Frank mentioned adjusting this in the law.

“What we’re talking about doing with the law, in its present form, is changing some language to give the reviewing body the option to make a project conditionally approved with reporting requirements each year about a particular farm’s income from farming operations versus income from the tourism use,” said Frank.

Members of the public did not speak out on the law but have the opportunity next Tuesday, February 28, when they hope to adopt the law.