Zoning board to consider CAFO expansion request

A livestock producer wants to expand his concentrated animal feeding operation northeast of Hope.

This time, William Corya, of J&A Asset Management, is seeking a modification to the project approved Dec. 14 by the Bartholomew County Board of Zoning Appeals, said Jeff Bergman, City of Columbus — Bartholomew County planning director.

“Instead of a new building being constructed on the northern end of the property, they now want to make an addition to an existing building that is more centrally located on the site,” Bergman said.

The matter will be considered by the board of zoning appeals at 7 p.m. Monday in the fourth-floor county council chambers at the county office building at Third and Franklin streets. A public hearing is planned prior to the vote.

Corya said additional animals will not be added to his long-standing CAFO operation, which houses up to 2,500 sows and litters near the intersection of County Road 800N and Stafford Road.

During consideration of last year’s request, planning officials determined the existing manure lagoons designed to lessen the chances of overflow onto adjacent ground are capable of providing more than sufficient storage for the expansion.

When a new building was being considered, board member Gil Palmer voted against the variance that would have allowed the structure to be built only 45 feet from the property line.

But under the revised plans, J&A will comply with the current 100-foot setback requirement, as well as meet all other development requirements, Bergman said.

Besides Corya’s home, two single-family properties to the south are within a half-mile of the current hog farm.

Although those residents were notified, no objections were raised during December’s meeting regarding the way that Corya has operated his hog farm for more than 20 years.

Corya said the 4,900 square foot building expansion will result in better productivity, as well as help prevent the spread of animal diseases.

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The Bartholomew County Board of Zoning Appeals will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the county council chambers, located on the fourth floor of the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building, 440 Third Street.    

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