The Wellington (Colorado) Town Board on April 13 amended the code for industrial zones to limit the type of animal slaughtering facilities that can locate there.

The code now prohibits animal rendering and slaughtering of cattle, hogs and sheep. It still allows poultry processing, but any expansion of an already-approved poultry plant will require public hearings to get conditional approval.

Wellington’s zoning code originally said that “manufacturing and preparing food products” are a permitted principal use in an industrial zone, and town attorney Brad March interpreted that to include slaughtering plants. As a result, town leaders in January approved a site plan and a development agreement for a poultry processing facility of 4,200 square feet to be built on the far north side of town.

Other uses now prohibited include feedlots, gas and oil refining facilities, petroleum refining and some electric power generation and distribution.

In Wellington, industrial and light industrial zones are located near or adjacent to residential subdivisions, a situation that has concerned town residents.