The Carson City Planning Commission voted 5-1 on Wednesday to approve a special use permit application for a slaughterhouse on Highway 50 with more added conditions. Once operations begin, people must be able to stand at the property line without smelling offensive odors related to the processing of animals or hear any noise above 80 decibels. If the applicant, Carson Valley Meats, fails to properly mitigate noise and odor, the commission may revoke the special use permit. Additionally, Carson Valley Meats will be required to complete a wetland delineation report. If the report finds the project does encroach on wetlands, operators will need to secure approval from the Environmental Protection Agency for the project. The commission will enforce the conditions with a review one year after the start of operations, and may choose to make that review annual. During public comment, residents in opposition to the project expressed concerns about decreasing home values, pollution, noise, odor, insect infestations, and more. Commission Chair Charles Borders pointed out all the conditions, saying, “(We’re) putting teeth into the special use permits that we approve.” Commissioner Jay Wiggins added the Planning Commission revoked Tahoe Western Asphalt’s special use permit earlier this year. The offensive odors that the plant emitted were deemed a public nuisance. The majority of the Planning Commission agreed that Carson Valley Meats’ application and conditions properly protects peaceful enjoyment of the surrounding areas. The “no” vote came from Commissioner Nathaniel Killgore. He commended Carson Valley Meats for the project design and mitigations, but added, “That does not change that I serve the community.” Alongside the new conditions, Carson Valley Meats voluntarily changed its application to include more trees providing visual barriers around the slaughterhouse, as well as an indoor cargo unloading area to minimize dust and flies. Public commenters in support of the project said it would be a great resource for youth participants in 4-H who raise their own livestock, and it will support the farm to table movement. This was the second time the commission heard the application. After the first meeting in September, city staff found a clerical error. Not all residents near the project had received notices of the public hearing. At the first hearing, Carson Valley Meats agreed to move all operations indoors, including a corral area, and return for a review one year after the start of operations. After the Planning Commission approved the application in September, the Community Development Department received three appeals of the decision. The appeals were initially slated to go before the Board of Supervisors in November, if not for the rehearing. Appeals of the Dec. 15 approval will be accepted until Dec. 27. To contact the Community Development Department, call 775-887-2180 or email planning@carson.org.
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