Agenda - Council - 07/14/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 27, 1992 To Concerned Residents: The purpose of this letter is to provide concerned area residents with an update as to how the City is proceeding with regard to the local hog farm and the odors being generated by that use. As most of yon already know, the hog farm is an agricultural use which is permitted under the City's R- I Rural Residential zoning regulations. The City Code also does not limit the number of animals that may be kept on pm-eels exceeding 20 acres in size. The parcel used for the hog farm is zoned R-1 Rural Residential and exceeds 20 acres in size. In researching the matter further, it has also been determined that State Statutes exempt agricultural uses from being declared as odor nuisances if they have been in existence 6 years or more. However, if the operation has increased in size, then the date of the enlargement is considered the date of establishment. It is the City's position that the hog farm increased in size in 199I because prior to that time, the City had not received any complaints of hog farm odors. Based on that, the City does not consider the hog farm exempt from odor nuisance and has requested that the owner of the hog farm cooperate with the City to resolve the odor nuisance problems. In the meantime, the operator of the hog farm has also applied for a feedlot permit which is required under Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) rules. MPCA has inspected the site and is intending to issue a feed.lot permit. However, according to MPCA there are approximately 750 hogs on the site and the feedlot permit will be issued for a maximum of 450 hogs. On March 10, 1992, in an effort to reduce the odor nuisances, the City Council directed the owner of the hog farm to decrease the size of his operation to 450 hogs by July I, 1992, in accordance with MPCA recommendations. It is certainly the City's hope that decreasing the size of the operation by 40% will resolve the odor nuisance problems. In addition, the City Council requested that the owner of the hog farm provide the City with documentation that would reflect how many hogs were on the site at any give time in 1990, a time period in which there are no odor complaints on record for this specific site. If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please don't hesitate to cai1 me at 427-1410. Thank you for your patience and cooperation in this matter. Respectfully, CITY OF RAMSEY Sylvia Frolik Zoning Administrator I ! Ii I I I I I' I I ! I I i I I I ! I