An application by a Lyon County farmer to build a hog barn about a mile outside Marshall drew some opposition Tuesday from both the city and neighboring residents, county staff and residents said. While the Lyon County Planning and Zoning Commission will be recommending approval of a conditional use permit with a list of conditions, that approval isn't guaranteed.
Lyon County Planning and Zoning Administrator John Biren said a public hearing was held Tuesday night on an conditional use permit application by Dean Noyes to expand an existing feedlot. Specifically, the expansion would build a finishing barn that would hold 1,200 swine being raised for market, he said. The barn would be located in Fairview Township, a little more than a mile outside Marshall city limits.
Biren said Noyes has three existing barns with a total capacity of 2,200 head of swine. The CUP discussed at Tuesday's hearing would be the third Noyes has applied for.
"There was a lot of opposition" to the application at the hearing, Biren said. He said the county received several letters opposing the expansion of the barns, including one from Marshall City Zoning Administrator Glenn Olson.
Biren said opponents' main concerns about expanding the swine operation included the possibility of odor and noise, and the proposed barn's location relative to Marshall city limits. Olson's letter also involved concerns about how manure from the barns would be applied to fields, Biren said.
Neighboring residents were also present at the hearing to oppose the expansion, said Terry Chlebecek. Concerns included possible odor and noise issues. Chlebecek said he was concerned that odor issues would be a problem at his business, which is located along Highway 68 north of Marshall.
"We're not against people raising hogs," Chlebecek said, but neighbors thought it wasn't a good location.
Efforts by the Independent to contact Noyes by phone on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Biren said the proposed barn does meet the county's standards for minimum setbacks from neighboring property. However, he acknowledged that the issue could be more difficult because of expansion in Marshall, and the barn's proximity to city limits.
Biren said Planning and Zoning would be recommending that county commissioners grant Noyes the permit, but with a list of conditions. A total of 16 conditions were drafted, including conditions meant to address odor issues and govern the application of manure from the feedlot. If county commissioners approve the CUP, Biren said, Noyes would still need to work with other government agencies to meet their requirements.
Biren said the CUP would be addressed by the Lyon County Board on April 17. More information would be available later this week when the board meeting agenda is finalized, he said.