Steuben County 4,800-hog CAFO proposal put on hold for one month

Keith Werner, a third-generation farmer, petitioned for a special exception in agricultural zoning. He proposes a swine CAFO on a 60-acre site at C.R. 600W and C.R. 200N. That site sits near Pine Canyon, Crooked and Lime lakes and Lake Gage.

Steuben County Assistant Plan Director Vina Conti said the meeting dates for the petition to be considered by the Steuben County Plan Commission and Steuben County Board of Zoning Appeals have been moved from April.

The petition will now be considered by the plan commission at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 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 BZA.

The BZA’s meeting will be held in the same location on Monday, May 11, at 7 p.m. Public comment will be taken at that meeting. The BZA makes the final decision on the special exception.

Conti said the change came about because Robert Eherenman, attorney for the Steuben County Lakes Consortium, is not available in April. The consortium is a citizens group fighting the proposal. Conti said Werner and his legal counsel agreed to the postponement.

Werner, owner of K&D Contract Pork LLC, has 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. Werner received an Indiana Department of Environmental Management permit in January 2014.

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 the outcome of a special exception request is based on affects on the comprehensive plan, runoff to lakes, negative impact, smell, ground water and impact on environment.

In an email to The Herald Republican, Werner’s attorney, John Schwarz said: “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.”

Schwarz said his client’s 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.

Droves of area residents have packed meetings against the proposal saying the CAFO would decrease the county’s tourism industry, property values and damage roads from excess truck weights. 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.