The public will have another chance to weigh in on the proposed confined feeding operation chapter for the county’s zoning ordinance today as the Plan Commission continues debating the regulations.
The commission tabled a vote last month after listening to more than an hour of testimony from supporters and opponents of regulating the location of industrial farms, and reviewing line-by-line the article’s provisions.
“I hope that this month we come to some kind of agreement and we end up with a recommendation to send to the commissioners and the commissioners can take it up at their next meeting,” said Plan Commission president John Frey, who also serves on the Board of Commissioners.
The chapter places restrictions on the siting of new confinement farms and establishes a points system for approving building permit applications. Montgomery County would join at least 64 other Indiana counties with zoning regulations on the farms.
Public health experts and environmentalists say the manure produced by confining large numbers of animals raises the risk of contamination and disease.
Farmers argue the operations, which have existed under state regulation in the county for years, represent a long-term investment in rural communities.
The chapter was first introduced in July after residents organized against a Linden farmer’s plans to build a nearly 9,000-head hog operation. A stakeholder committee was convened to study the language and presented a list of recommended changes to the Plan Commission in October.
Some of the recommendations included striking odor reduction and manure management practices from the application scoring system and changing minimum distance requirements from neighboring properties.
The Plan Commission could accept the changes or recommend the chapter as is to the Board of Commissioners for a final vote.
Today’s meeting begins at 4 p.m. at the Montgomery County Courthouse.
