ANGOLA — Keith Werner has again petitioned for a special exception-usage request from Steuben County on a proposed 4,800-hog concentrated animal feeding operation in the heart of the lakes region.
Steuben County Assistant Plan Director Vina Conti confirmed that petition that would be in agricultural zoning. It will be considered by the Steuben County Plan Commission at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 1, in the Steuben Community Center, 317 S. Wayne St. No public comment will be taken during the meeting. At that time, the plan commission will forward a decision that’s favorable, unfavorable or no recommendation to the Steuben County Board of Zoning Appeals.
The BZA’s meeting will be held in the same location, Steuben Community Center, on Monday, April 6 at 7 p.m. Public comment will be taken at that meeting. The BZA makes the final decision on the special exception.
Werner, owner of K&D Contract Pork, applied for the special exception with the Steuben County Plan Office Friday. Conti said the application is the same as Werner filed last year.
A third-generation farmer, Werner has proposed a 60-acre hog operation at C.R. 600W and C.R. 200N. He proposed two barns, each containing a maximum 2,400 grow-to-finish hogs. Pigs for the operation would arrive at 55-60 pounds and leave weighing between 250-270 pounds. He received an Indiana Department of Environmental Management CAFO permit in January 2014.
In an email to The Herald Republican, Werner’s attorney, John Schwarz said: “K&D Contract Pork, LLC, has refiled its application for a special use exception with Steuben County Plan Commission. At the time of the initial filing, several concerns were raised about possible impacts the farm could have on surrounding properties. Though K&D felt that these concerns were unsubstantiated, it withdrew its initial application in order to study the issues and make accommodations for the concerns that were raised. Legal counsel for K&D is currently in talks with legal counsel representing area residents, so as to further identify and evaluate existing concerns. These accommodations made by K&D will be explained in the near future.”
He continued: “Now being in a position to implement certain accommodations, K&D is hopeful that the individuals who raised the prior concerns will see that the proposed accommodations will alleviate those concerns and that the proposed farming operation will be safe and beneficial to the community. K&D believes it can replicate the co-existence with its neighbors that the half dozen similarly sized livestock farming operations in or near Steuben County have enjoyed over the past several years.”
A special exception is required from the BZA based on the size of the proposed CAFO, which Conti said is more than 600 swine.
Frank Charlton, Steuben County plan director, said earlier the outcome of a special exception request is based on the affects on the comprehensive plan, runoff to lakes, negative impact, smell, ground water and impact on environment.
Werner’s parcel is near Pine Canyon, Crooked and Lime lakes and Lake Gage. Environmental concerns have been expressed over potential pollution problems and air quality by neighboring lake residents, and a citizens group to fight the proposal was formed.
Multitudes of residents spoke out last year and packed meetings against the proposal. They also wrote numerous letters to the editor that appeared in this newspaper.
Others have said the CAFO would decrease the county’s tourism industry and property values and damage roads from excess truck weights.
Schwarz said his client’s CAFO proposal is also up against the Office of Environmental Adjudication.
Werner withdrew a special exception request with the county last year. That was after an OEA judge requested mediation between Werner and those appealing his CAFO permit.
A stay was granted on appeal Sept. 26, 2014, by Judge Catherine Gibbs. Barry Sneed, IDEM public information officer, said the judge’s request was made in lieu of the county’s pending special exception decision.
News of Werner re-applying for the special exception did not come as a surprise to Pete Hippensteel, vice president of the Steuben County Lakes Council.
“There’s the same concerns — water quality, ground water and potential for runoff from manure application, air quality concerns and their effect on property values,” Hippensteel said.