Officials approved proposals for hog farms in two corners of Cass County Monday night.
Aaron and Farrah Hines, Burnettsville, are planning to start their hog farm east of 1100 West and north of 500 North in Cass County, southwest of Royal Center. They want to construct two buildings over 35,000 square feet each holding a maximum of 4,800 hogs each. Plans call for manure to be stored underneath the buildings before being injected into nearby farm fields.
The Hines' proposal was on the Cass County Board of Zoning Appeals' agenda last month but officials had to continue it because the couple didn't yet own the land the farm is proposed for. They have since joined the ownership of that land, Logansport/Cass County/Walton Zoning Administrator Chris Gaumer said Tuesday.
Board of zoning appeals members came to the conclusion that they needed to continue the matter after hearing testimony on it last month and determined any testimony they'd be able to consider would have to be provided again.
Jim Brugh, a Logansport-based attorney who represents residents who live near the proposed farm, disagreed with the call for the do-over last month and maintained that disagreement in a statement he released Tuesday.
"The Board went out of its way to give the wealthy citizen a second opportunity to make a case," Brugh said in the statement. "The case ended a month ago. The neighborhood which has lots of residents gets a polluted environment. Pigs win."
Aaron Hines said Tuesday that his and his wife's venture will align with all Cass County and Indiana Department of Environmental Management regulations. He added they plan to have wooded buffers planted around the farm to help block the smell.
"Sure, there may be an odor now and again but I don't think it's going to adversely affect the community," Hines said.
Attempts to reach several Cass County Board of Zoning Appeals members Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Opponents can appeal the board's decision to Cass County Circuit Court within 30 days of Monday's meeting. Brugh said Tuesday his clients have yet to determine whether they'll appeal.
The board approved both hog farms unanimously, Gaumer said.
Taylor Miller, Galveston, is looking to develop his hog farm in the 9100 block of U.S. 35 northwest of Lincoln. His plans call for two buildings about 100 by 340 feet each that will house about 4,000 hogs each. He also intends to use the manure as fertilizer by injecting it into nearby farm fields.