Stuartburn shepherds sheep farm ahead

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/03/2016 (2962 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Rural Municipality of Stuartburn is one step closer to getting a sheep farm in the near future.

Council approved three applications put forth by Canada Sheep and Lamb by a two to one vote on Mar. 17.

Councillor Dan Bodz was the sole vote of opposition. Reeve Jim Swidersky and councillor Konrad Narth excused themselves from the decision due to conflict of interest.

Last April, Pat Smith, the president of Canada Sheep and Lamb Farms, applied for three different planning applications. The first was to rezone a portion of SW 1/4 28-3-8E (six kilometers east of Zhoda) to industrial/commercial. The second was to allow the establishment of an intensive livestock operation. And the third was to vary the required minimum setback in the zoning by-law from 1,180 feet to 680 feet.

In simpler terms, Smith proposed a 945 animal unit (15,000 feeder lambs) lamb feeder operation, which involves construction of ten 32 feet by 704 feet feeder structures, using feed storage for manure, consuming 24,000 imperial gallons of water per day, composting mortalities and using several truck haul routes.

Any objectors have 14 days to voice opposition to the plans, which could send the zoning matter to a municipal board review.

Smith’s applications drew 100 people to a public hearing at the Vita Hall on Mar. 8. Several area residents voiced their opposition for the project both in person and via letter. Council also received a petition from residents who sought to have Swidersky and Narth vote on the applications, as they felt their perceived conflict of interest notions were not strong enough. However, this petition was deemed invalid as it did not follow council’s petition guidelines.

Last fall, area residents also held a town hall meeting on their own accord to discuss the proposed sheep farm, as many rumours swirled throughout the process.

Since Smith’s applications’ proposed a livestock operation, they were subject to a technical review process by the province. The province’s report, which was presented at the public hearing, found Smith to be in compliance of the process and with no large concerns over his proposed project.

Smith was fined $25,000 last year in the RM of Hanover, after Canada Sheep and Lambs began construction on an expansion to an existing facility before they received the go-ahead from the municipality.

The sheep farm is expected to create about 200 jobs, Smith said at the hearing.