Town of Gardiner Application for Protection of Open
Space and Farmland
Note: If the space provided is insufficient for you to answer a question, please attach
additional sheets, and reference the section and sub-section. If you have a tax map or
survey map, you can sketch on it and add notes as you answer the questions, if it will help
to clarify your responses.
All land totaling at least fifty acres (farmland included) in the Town of Gardiner (TOG) is
eligible for this program. Answer the questions appropriate to your premises. Indicate
N/A (not applicable) where necessary. This application will be evaluated and scored for
suitability using the TOG Open Space Application Evaluation Criteria, which is based on
information contained in the Gardiner Open Space Plan (OSP). Since this criteria was
established as an initial guideline, changes will be made as needed as this program
develops.
The responsibility of the Open Space Committee (OSC), to whom this application is
being submitted, is to evaluate and rank each application, and make recommendations to
the Gardiner Town Board (GTB), as to which applications should be considered. It is the
responsibility of the GTB to accept or not accept the applications
1. Applicant and landowner information
a. Please list primary contact first, or indicate which is primary:
Name Address Telephone
(1)_____________________ ________________________________ ______________
(2)_____________________ ________________________________ ______________
(3)_____________________ ________________________________ ______________
(4)_____________________ ________________________________ ______________
If these premises are managed or farmed by any persons other then the owners, please list
their names and contact information:
Name Address Telephone
(1)_____________________ ________________________________ ______________
(2)_____________________ ________________________________ ______________
2. Property information”
a. Is this a working farm? Yes____ No____
b. Are these premises located within an Ulster County Ag district?
Yes____ No____
c. Do these premises have a current agricultural assessment?
Yes____ No____
d. Does this farm have a current U.S.D.A. Farm Conservation Plan?
Yes:____ No:____ (if yes, please provide a copy with this application)
e. Are these premises located in a Priority Conservation area? (see OSP
chapter 4) Yes____ No____
If yes, which Priority Conservation Area:_______________
f. If there are multiple contiguous parcels, list all that are included in this
application
Section Block Lot Acres (est.)
__________________ _________________ _________________ ______
__________________ _________________ _________________ ______
__________________ _________________ _________________ ______
__________________ _________________ _________________ ______
__________________ _________________ _________________ ______
Total Acres:________
g. State the source of the acreage estimate:
Survey____ Tax map____ Deed____ Tax bill____ Other____
h. Will any of the tax lots be exempted from the Easement Purchase
application? Yes____ No____
If yes, identify the location, approximate shape and the acreage of the exempted areas on
the tax map: (please attach map showing what is exempted)
i. What is the net acreage to be considered for the easement
purchase?:______
j. If applicable, state the date(s) of any previous applications made to sell the
development rights to this property:____________________
k. Has the property been appraised within the year preceding the date of this
application?: Yes____ No____
If yes, please state the reason the property was appraised: ________________
______________________________________________________________
l. What is the current zoning classification?:__________________________
3. Physical Description and if applicable, Agricultural use of Property (for
working farms)
a. Identify the acreage use of the land to be considered for easement
purchase. Refer to tax bill or farmland assessment forms. Total should
equal acres listed on bill. Please include a copy of your most recent
Farmland Assessment form or tax bill with this application.
Use Acreage
Field crops ________
Pasture ________
Open fields, (fallow) ________
Orchard ________
Nursery ________
Woodland ________(working forest, timber)
Woodland _________(non-working forest)
Vegetable ________
Tree farm ________
Dairy ________ Number of head:_________
Cattle (beef) ________ Number of head:_________
Other ________ Number of other:_________(sheep, goats, hogs)
Poultry ________ Flock size:______________
Equine ________ Number of horses________
Other (describe) __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
b. List, in order of importance (#1 being most important) the types of
agricultural enterprises on your premises (i.e. dairy, hay, trees, field crops,
etc.
(1)______________________________ (2)___________________________
(3)______________________________ (4)___________________________
(5)______________________________ (6)___________________________
c. If you intend to use the premises differently in the upcoming five years,
from how it has been used over the past year, describe the changes you
intend to make:___________
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
d. Describe all bodies of water which are on or adjacent to the premises. For
bodies of water on the premises, describe the approximate size, depth,
location (please provide an approx. map) and use :
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
e. Describe all non-residential improvements, if applicable, which assist in or
support agricultural use on these premises (i.e. barns, sheds, housing for
farm workers, drainage systems, irrigation systems, etc.)
Improvement Size (sq. ft. or acres) Use Date of improvement
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________
f. Describe any improvements (whether or not for agricultural use) which
you plan to make to the premises, and when you plan to make them
(please estimate):
Improvement Size (sq. ft. or acres) Use Est. date
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________
__________________ _________________ _________________ __________

g. Identify anything special about the premises (i.e. historical significance,
uniqueness of the agricultural operation, etc.):
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
h. Liens / Easements / Rights-of-Way: Please list any liens, easements, or
rights-of-way that exist on the premises (Note: the applicant should
receive preliminary approval from current lien, easement, and right-ofway
holders granting the applicant permission to proceed with
negotiations involving the sale of a development easement. Regarding
public utilities, the applicant shall note if any exist. The GTB will
determine if the easement holder should be notified or if a waiver should
be granted:____________________________________
4. Miscellaneous.
a. To your knowledge, are there any documented rare, threatened, or
endangered species on the premises?
b. Does the property have any historic value (buildings or sites) that are
recognized by the town, county, state, or federal governments?
5. Buildings
a. Describe all structurally sound buildings on the property that are not in
use and state the reason for their non-use(indicate on map if possible)
b. Describe the type and size of all non-agricultural uses which are
operational on the property(i.e. business office, home occupations,
etc._________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
c. Describe each housing unit and its residents on the property. For
“Resident Interest”, indicate if the resident is the property owner, a
relative of the owner, the farm operator, ag labor, or unrelated to the farm
(where applicable)
Size (sq.ft,) Date Constructed Number of residents/capacity Resident Interest
____________ _________________ ________________________ _______________
____________ _________________ ________________________ _______________
____________ _________________ ________________________ _______________
____________ _________________ ________________________ _______________
____________ _________________ ________________________ _______________
d. Number of single family residential buildings:___________________
Number of multi family residential buildings:___________________
Number of rental units (apartments):___________________
6. Property, Legal Status
a. Name each person or organization(other then the persons who hold title)
who have a legal interest in the premises (including, but not limited to,
mortgage claim, lease, use easement, access easement, right-of-way, etc)
and describe the interest:
Name and Address Interest
__________________________________________________ _____________________
__________________________________________________ _____________________
__________________________________________________ _____________________
__________________________________________________ _____________________
b. Is the property listed for sale? Yes____ No____
c. Within the past year has the sale of the property been under negotiation?
Yes____ No____ If Yes, describe the negotiations and their
status_______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
d. Is the property under agreement of sale, or does anyone have an option to
purchase? Yes____ No____
e. Describe any application for development of the premises which was filed
within the last three year. Provide date of preliminary approval, date of
final approval, and documentation of approvals if applicable
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
f. Describe any pending court or arbitration proceeding which the concern
the premises or may have an impact on the premises._________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Residual Dwelling Site Opportunity (RDSO)
a. Each farm in the program may be entitled to one or more RDSO. An
RDSO is the right to construct a residential unit and other appurtenant
structures on the deed restricted premises. The RDSO is to be used for
agricultural purposes. The GTB will decide how many RDSOs to allocate
to a farm, but not more then two RDSOs will be allocated for each 100
acres of the premises. The number of RDSOs which might be allowed
include existing residential buildings.
State the number of RDSOs you are requesting:___________
Exceptions
a. If you are not eligible for an RDSO or prefer not to utilize that method,
your alternative for excluding a portion of the premises from the
application would be to request an exception. An exception is a portion of
the applicants land holding not to be encumbered by the deed restrictions.
The area of the exception should not exceed 5% of the gross land area of
the premises. The location of the exception should not negatively impact
the agricultural operations. The GTB will require Right to Farm language
on the exception.
b. If you wish to request an exception from the subject property, state the
number of acres you want to exclude and submit with this application
form a copy of the tax map, indicating the location, approximate size, and
shape.
Number of acres you wish to exclude:_____________
7. General
a. After all applications are ranked and approved by the OSC, submitted to
the GTB and Department of Ag and Markets (where applicable), an
independent appraisal must be done for all premises that are selected for
PDR. The town of Gardiner and the NYS Department of Ag and Markets
(where applicable) requests that the applicant fill in the blank in the
following paragraph so that the GTB will know whether the landowner is
in the “ball park” of current fair market values.
As landowner(s) of the premises described in this application, I/we are will to
offer for PDR our land in the amount of $_________per acre. I/we realize
that this figure is non-binding and the final per acre price will be determined
after an independent appraisal is done on the subject property.
Please Note: The amount that an independent appraiser arrives at will be the
development value, less the agricultural value per acre for the entire property,
which will then become the PDR value. The value which you state should
be your closest estimate of the DEVELOPMENT value.
In the interest of full disclosure regarding conflicts of interest, please disclose
whether any owner of family member serves in a position of public trust
(town or county official capacity, voluntary or paid).
Name Organization Position
_________________________ _______________________ _____________
_________________________ _______________________ _____________
_________________________ _______________________ _____________
8. Acknowledgments and Authorizations
a. All persons signing this application certify that the information provided
in this form is true. Applicants understand that this application will be
disqualified if the applicant willfully provides false information.
b. All persons signing this application agree to cooperate in the review of this
application and to provide such additional information which the GTB
deems necessary.
c. Because the purpose of this program is to permanently deed restrict your
premises against residential, commercial, industrial, and in the case of
currently non-agricultural use, agricultural use and development, it is
recommended that you consult with an attorney and/or financial advisor
with respect to how this restriction could affect you.
d. Landowner(s) signature(s) below shall authorize the Town of Gardiner, its
agent, and employees in the evaluation of this application. All current
owners must sign:
Name (print) Signature Date
_________________________ ___________________________ _________
_________________________ ___________________________ _________
_________________________ ___________________________ _________
_________________________ ___________________________ _________