Marshall County BZA approved variance for two chicken barns on Grape Road

The Marshall County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance of development standard to allow a reduction in residential setback from the required 1320 feet to 500 feet for two residents on Grape Road in German Township.

Michael Leeper requested the variance to build two 60 X 600 chicken barns for 80,000 birds in a Confined Feeding Operation (CFO) at 3359 Grape Road. 

Leeper had sought the same variance in February, but the County BZA denied the permit because there was a lot of opposition, and a neighbor opposed to the project was within the 1320 feet required setback.

After the February meeting, a neighbor offered to sell Leeper land across the street, putting the broiler chicken barns further from the Bremen town limits and moving the barns past the 1230 setback of the neighbor who was opposed to the ag operation. 

Leeper said he has been working with IDEM on the drainage plans and dry manure storage facility.  He told the BZA his home with only 500 feet away, and he signed paperwork approving the operation.  The only other neighbor within the 1320 feet setback also signed papers in favor of the project.

During Tuesday’s meeting, several spoke during the public hearing, Joseph Stoller from Stoller Farms opposed the operation, saying it would take 30 to 25 trucks every 42 days to haul out the birds. He also complained about flies, odor, and the impact on property values.  Stoller didn’t think his building was outside the 1320 setback and gave permission for Leeper to access his property to do a measurement.

The Bremen Town Attorney and a council member spoke against the chicken barns, saying they are too close to the town boundary, 7/10^th of a mile.  They said the agricultural project would impede long-term growth.    

Members of the BZA discussed the proposed variance request and noted that Leeper had moved further away from the town boundary and the neighbor who was too close.  The saw on the drawings that Leeper has some flexibility to move the barns slightly further from the neighbor if the measurement provided wasn’t accurate. 

They also calculated that it would take approximately 18 semis every 6 weeks to move the chickens out, but only 1 semi to bring them in.  There will also be about 14 loads of feed delivered during the 6 weeks of growth.

The Marshall County Board of Zoning Appeals approved the variance 4-1, subject to obtaining a CFO Permit from IDEM, and strict compliance with the Marshall County Zoning Ordinances and strict compliance with other Marshall County departments pertaining to CFOs.