To the editor:

I am responding to Jorn Clement’s letter in the Aug. 4 Cazenovia Republican. A point-by-point review of Mr. Clement’s letter demonstrating its inaccuracies would be too lengthy to publish in your paper; however, please consider the following:

1. Mr. Clement misunderstands the intent of proposed changes to town zoning code. These changes were initiated by a New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets audit which was completed, not only in the Town of Cazenovia, but in numerous towns across New York state. The audit made multiple suggestions to bring the town’s local zoning ordinances into conformance with existing New York State Agriculture and Markets Law.

Of 11 main suggested changes, the town proposed to implement five and rejected six. A number of the proposed modifications were declined by the town specifically to protect residents who could be impacted by certain negative characteristics of a farm operation’s marketing strategies.

2. Mr. Clement is also incorrect to claim that Anastasia Urtz or other members of the planning board had anything to do with these changes; they did not.
3. The development of a Farmland Protection Plan, as well as various pieces of farm-friendly legislation, took place before any farm breweries or wineries existed in Cazenovia and were undertaken to support and protect our farms and agricultural economy.
4. Mr. Clement alleges “conflicts of interest” with absolutely no factual support. No such conflicts of interest exist or have existed with respect to any Town of Cazenovia Planning Board Member. In fact, the farm winery at issue actually sued the planning board (unsuccessfully) in response to conditions imposed on the winery in 2015 to limit potential negative impacts on neighboring residents and the broader community.
5. Mr. Clement cites as suspect the town board’s pending legislation to adopt a statement that the town’s zoning law should not be interpreted to “unreasonably restrict/restrain farms or farm operations located in a State Certified Agricultural District.” He fails to understand that this is current New York State Law, not something that the Town of Cazenovia has “cooked up” in favor of any farm operations.

I have full confidence in the integrity and competence of the citizen volunteers on our planning board and zoning board of appeals.

Bill Zupan

Cazenovia Town Supervisor