Jay County Board of Zoning Appeals members ruled in favor of patience and public concern Thursday while denying three variance requests for a controversial hog operation in Bearcreek Township.

Board member Dennis Rodgers spearheaded the BZA’s opinion, stating that he felt the planned 4,800 head hog operation by Cody Shannon, 19, near 3794 E. 800 North, Bryant, was a bad fit for the area.

 “You’re really young and you’ve accomplished a lot,” said Rodgers, who also raises hogs. “Patience is a virtue and I think that really comes into play a lot.

“You have to do it in the right place and my opinion is this is the wrong place,” he said. “Your dreams are good. Live them. But be patient.”

Shannon, who said he has been working with hogs since he was 10 years old, came before the board in search of three setback variances  —— one from his parent’s home, one from the home of Virgil Gierhart and one from Gierhart’s mother’s house. Gierhart, who has been working with Shannon in order to start the project, holds power of attorney for his mother.

All three residences are less than 750 feet — the minimum required residential setback in the county’s zoning ordinance — from the proposed barn

Shannon’s mother, Sandy Shannon, felt the variance request didn’t apply to disgruntled neighbors who were present at the meeting, since the farm would properly meet the setbacks from all other neighboring homes.

“This is a variance that affects me and my husband, Virgil Gierhart and his mother,” she said. “It doesn’t affect anyone else.

“Cody bought this property so we could keep (the barn) close by,” she said. “We have no problem with it as we’ve given you in writing.”
Board members, after hearing several comments from neighbors and other area residents who opposed the project, disagreed.

Rodgers cited section 503.3 of the county’s zoning ordinance regarding variances that states: “The variance observes the spirit of this Ordinance, produces substantial justice, and is not contrary to the public interest.”

“There’s a lot of public interest and a lot of concern,” Rodgers said prior to moving the board deny the variances.
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