Hart BOC Approves 1st Reading of Poultry House Ordinance

Hart County Commissioners have approved the first reading of the poultry house setback ordinance.

At their meeting Tuesday, the board poured over the performance standard which outlines how far away poultry houses have to be from residential properties, parks, churches, and other public places.

Commissioner Ricky Carter said, however, the County needs to expand it to a new, more comprehensive law.

“I’ve stated this many times, I think we need to make this ordinance comprehensive because of all of the intensive agriculture operations,” Carter said. “I don’t think there’s justification not to.”

However, Commissioner Joey Dorsey pointed out that a performance standard only addresses one area and other issues concering poultry houses other than setbacks would have to be addressed separately.

But Carter noted other ordinances such as the County’s beer and wine ordinance are more comprehensive.

County attorney Walter Gordon said there is a difference because of the moratorium the Board imposed.

Gordon said bringing in other aspects to broaden the ordinance would make implementing it take a lot longer.

“Because of the moratorium, I think there’s a compelling reason to move forward with this poultry house ordinance or drop the moratorium and work on the whole thing,” Gordon said.
“Since there has a halt called on new poultry farm permits, you owe it to the poultry farmers to go ahead with this ordinance and get it done.”

After hearing from Gordon and making some minor changes and clarifications to the setback ordinance, the board approved the first reading.

A revised version with those changes will be reviewed by the Board at their June meeting.

By law, the County must have three readings and another public hearing before the ordinance can become law.

County administrator Jon Caime said they hope to have ordinance voted into law by the moratorium deadline, which is July 1.