Poultry plant to build at new site
January 06, 2010
By JoAn Bjarko
The Wellington
By moving 40 feet north to an industrial-zoned lot, the builders of a proposed poultry processing plant have greatly simplified the task of getting a building permit from Wellington (Colorado) town government.
The Wellington Planning Commission on Jan. 4 gave unanimous approval to a site plan submitted by property owner Jim Pieper, who is partnering with contractor Derrel Baker to establish the new business.
Last summer, Pieper and Baker were working with Northern Colorado Poultry LLC to place the processing plant in a light industrial zone on the north side of Wellington. At that site, the enterprise needed a conditional use permit, which drew significant opposition from residents of neighboring subdivisions.
The opposition had gathered enough petition signatures to force the Wellington Town Board to repeal its approval or set an election for a citizen vote. Just as the town board was ready to take up the issue, Northern Colorado Poultry abruptly closed its business.
Since then, town attorney Brad March has noted that “manufacturing and preparing food products” is a permitted principal use in an industrial zone, and he concluded that category includes chicken processing. As a result, the planning commission only has authority to review how the processing plant will be constructed. The elected town board will not review the plan unless citizens file an appeal by 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11.
Town administrator Larry Lorentzen requested some changes on the site plan, so planning commission approval was based on Pieper and Baker submitting an amended plan to town hall by Thursday, Jan. 7. The amended site plan will be available for public review on Friday, Jan. 8, Lorentzen said, in order for citizens to decide if they want to appeal to the town board.
When questioned by citizens at the planning commission meeting, Lorentzen said they also have the option of filing a lawsuit if they oppose the industrial zone location.
The builders still need to complete a development agreement with the town on the issues of extending a sewer line and paving an access road to the new business. Lorentzen said he expects to present a draft agreement to the town board at its Jan. 12 meeting.
The proposed building will have 4,200 square feet plus attached cooler space. Unlike the original proposal from Northern Colorado Poultry, the new concept does not include retail sales. Pieper estimated the business would have 10 employees.
Pieper said Northern Colorado Poultry has disbanded, but he will likely work with the former company’s marketing team to establish the new business.
When Northern Colorado Poultry proposed its expansion to Wellington, it was leasing a family-owned property near Nunn in Weld County. That property has since been leased by Doug Rice of Fort Collins, who will establish a new USDA-approved enterprise called Rocky Mountain Poultry Processing.
Rice said in a telephone interview with The Wellington that he has paid for all new processing equipment, but its delivery has been delayed. The manufacturer has not provided him with a timeline, he added.
The facility in Nunn, Rice said, is about the size of a three-car garage. He will cater to local growers who need custom processing. Rocky Mountain Poultry Processing has been approved for 150 chickens a day, Rice said, and he will also process turkeys, ducks, rabbits and game birds.
