The Warren County Commission has voted to uphold an operating permit for a beef plant to be built outside Foristell, while setting extra conditions to address the concerns of neighboring homeowners.
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The Warren County Commission has voted to uphold an operating permit for a beef plant to be built outside Foristell, while setting extra conditions to address the concerns of neighboring homeowners.
Nearby residents had opposed the proposed 500,000-square-foot industrial slaughterhouse, sited on Veterans Memorial Parkway just west of Foristell, because of concerns about truck traffic, odor, and environmental impacts. A permit was originally awarded to meat company American Foods Group (AFG) in April, but opponents appealed for a hearing before the county commission that was held on May 24.
The three county commissioners convened a special session on June 8 to discuss their findings from that hearing. They voted unanimously to uphold the permit for AFG, saying they believe the plant will have a positive economic impact on the region, and that AFG had addressed all major concerns. However, commissioners did place several additional requirements on AFG's permit to accommodate concerns expressed by opponents.
The main requirements set forth by the commission involve holding AFG accountable to commitments for road development, water and sewer systems, and odor control systems that the company has said will be part of its project. That largely just means the company has to follow the plans it has already proposed to the county.
One additional restriction placed on the facility is aimed at protecting homeowners who live on the neighboring Archer Road, which is a county-owned gravel roadway. AFG will be required to erect a sign banning its semi-truck drivers from traveling onto the road, limiting one of the major fears that residents there had expressed. Commissioners also discussed the potential for a seperate, general order banning all semi-trucks of any kind from Archer Road.
A finalized version of the commission order awarding the permit to AFG, and spelling out the requirements for the company, is expected to be completed within the coming weeks.
A full breakdown of the commission's decision will appear in the June 16 print edition of the Warren County Record.
