Planning Commission votes in favor of commercial feed lot
Posted By: Rachael Miner
rminer@klkntv.com
Washington no, Core yes, Scheer yes, motion passes 6–3.
It’s the vote members of the Lancaster Hills Alliance were hoping to avoid.
Wednesday afternoon the Lincoln Lancaster County Planning Commission voted 6-3 to approve a permit for a commercial feed lot in Southwest Lancaster County.
The ruling upset many neighbors who had been fighting the proposal for weeks.
"I was kind of disappointed in the fact that it didn’t seem like majority of the people mattered, as the one committee person said there’s a lot of signs because everybody in the neighborhood is against it," said Ken Tesar, who lives across the street from the proposed feed lot.
The feed lot would include four barns near SW 142nd and Wittstruck Road, housing nearly 200 thousand chickens.
Neighbors formed the Lancaster Hills Alliance to fight the proposed lot, citing concerns over declining property values, environmental hazards, and the stench from so many chickens.
Lincoln Premium Poultry who would be working with the landowner says they plan to follow all regulations.
"Our growers will continue to be required have permits from the Nebraska Department of environmental quality which will make them be accountable to those standards," said Jessica Kolternman, who handles external affairs for Lincoln Premium Poultry.
Assurance from the landowner and Lincoln Premium Poultry is not enough for this group of neighbors.
They plan to appeal the planning commission’s decision with the county board.
John Paul Jaimson, who shares a fence with the property where the feed lot would be built has one thing to say to county commissioners, "If you lived out there would you want a chicken feed lot right next to your piece of property?"
The neighbors have to file their appeal with the county board within 14 days, then the board will have 30 days to schedule a hearing.
