Proposed Turlock Slaughterhouse Has Residents Concerned
TURLOCK (CBS13) — Turlock homeowners are concerned are concerned about a proposed slaughterhouse near their homes.
They say a proposed meat processing plant will do more than package supermarket meat with thousands of hogs on the property.
The business is proposed at the corner of Dianne Drive and West Main Street, just west of Highway 99.
Turlock's west side has always been more country, but in the last few years, more factories have opened on old farm land. Residents say they welcome economic progress and a planned meat packing plant.
"Meat packing plant? That's fine. That's good for the area, good for the economy. It makes sense," said Lowell Pierce. "Then, it transitioned into, well, this is going to be a kill plant."
Homeowners say when they looked at the actual documents for the business proposal, they were shocked to see the meat being processed would first be alive and oinking at them across the street.
"They're going to be pooping outside. The noise is going to be a huge factor," said Robert Cunningham.
The firm handling the property says the owner is from California, the proposed plant would be 100,000 square feet and there would be a rotation of 3,000 hogs on the property.
The Turlock Planning Commission says the land is zoned industrial, but the business will have to apply for a conditional-use permit.
"I'm not surprised it's in the city limits anymore, but I'm surprised the city would entertain this type of operation," Pierce said.
Before the hogs can move in, the public gets a chance to sound off on the proposed slaughterhouse next door.
The planning commission will discuss it at a Nov. 5 meeting.
