MAXWELL — Officials are slated on Thursday to consider approvals needed for a proposed animal processing facility that’s drawn a significant response both for and against.
SP Property Investments is proposing the project at 238 N. Main St. in Maxwell, a property it owns where builder Smith Projects operates along with a commercial building housing an Edward Jones office. The firm wants to replace an existing pole barn used for storing construction supplies directly behind, or to the west of the commercial building, with a 13,800-square-foot structure split into three units. One of the units would be for animal and animal products processing, while the others would be used for cold storage and storing construction supplies. Hours of operation would be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours would likely be 7 a.m. to noon, but possibly to 5 p.m. during busy times. The facility would employ 20 to 25, and a retail meat store would go in the part of the commercial building not used by Edward Jones.
Cattle, hogs and potentially sheep would be processed at the facility, according to Jon Smith, founder and CEO of Smith Projects, who also raises cattle. Animals would be delivered by appointment one day a week, dropped off by a trailer backed up to an overhead door in the building, and kept in a holding pen and stalls inside the facility until processing. The building would have a maximum capacity of 20 cows and 40 hogs per week.
The building would be air-conditioned and heated and its walls would include block, two inches of insulation and a washable interior surface, as well as cement floors with trench drains. Smith and Brad Gruell, a Hancock County-based butcher who would oversee animal processing in the facility, say the facility would follow state and federal regulations, including regular pressure washing, inspections and keeping inedible animal remains in lidded barrels stored in a cooler while awaiting pickup.
The site is zoned industrial general, which requires a special exception for an animal processing facility approved by the Hancock County Board of Zoning Appeals. A variance would also be needed for the building to be 15 feet, rather than the rule of 50 feet, from the south property line shared with Indiana Automotive Equipment, which supports the proposal.
When considering a special exception, the zoning board weighs several criteria, including whether it would “be dangerous, injurious, or noxious to any other property or persons” and if it would be harmonious with the surrounding area.
State government officials, meat industry organizations and local livestock farmers back the idea, citing an absence of such facilities in the county and long wait times at the closest ones. If approved, it would be the first such facility in the county.
The building would be about 132 feet southeast of the Twin Oaks neighborhood, and about a quarter-mile north of Maxwell Intermediate School.
Mike Dale, executive director of the Hancock County Area Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, and multiple Twin Oaks residents oppose the proposal. They argue the location of the proposed operation is too close to nearby homes, and residents fear noise and odors would hurt their property values.
The matter was originally slated for last month’s board of zoning appeals meeting, but was continued in order for Smith to inform nearby property owners of his intention to plan for up to 6,000 square feet of the building to be for animal processing after originally indicating 4,200 square feet.
Smith said “an outpour from the community” has reached out to him since the last meeting conveying support for his proposal.
He added he’s also visited Archer’s Meats and Catering, which has processed animals in Greenwood near residential and commercial properties for decades, and has a similar facility and practice to the one he’s pursuing.
“Just more proof that there’s no nuisance, or sound, or smell from the process that we’re going to be doing,” Smith said.
He also said he organized a meeting on Tuesday to which Twin Oaks residents were invited.
“We just want to enlighten them on the process and answer any questions we can for them,” he said. “We think it’s a great asset; they just don’t understand.”
Susan Honcharuk, a Twin Oaks resident who opposes the proposal, said she and other opponents are working on an analysis of the approximately 50 other similar animal processing facilities in Indiana.
“None of them are adjacent to a major subdivision,” Honcharuk said. “The vast majority are in industrial or commercial-zoned areas. There are some rural ones that are zoned commercial, but surrounded by agriculture, which makes sense also.”
Honcharuk said neither she nor the other opponents are against the animal processing industry, just the location Smith is eyeing. She said she wouldn’t be attending Smith’s meeting and encouraged others not to either.
One can hire someone to do a good job, raise cattle and carry out construction activities like Smith Projects does, Honcharuk said.
“But you cannot hire somebody to be a good neighbor,” she continued. “You have to be that, and he just isn’t.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
WHAT: Hancock County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29
WHERE: Hancock County Annex, 111 American Legion Place, Greenfield
WHY: The board will consider a proposal for an animal processing facility in Maxwell
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Proposed animal processing facility
- 238 N. Main St., Maxwell
- SP Property Investments (Smith Projects)
- 13,800-square foot building
- Max capacity of 20 cows, 40 hogs per week
- Retail meat operation
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