Hart County Poultry House Setback Ordinance Takes Next Step Forward

Hart County Commissioners have put off the required readings for a new poultry house setback ordinance until more details of the ordinance can be worked out.

Earlier this month, County Administrator Jon Caime requested the board consider the ordinance because of the increased number of permit requests for poultry farms in the County.

Currently, Hart County has no land use regulations and people living near some poultry farms have complained about the odor and the close proximity to their properties.

During the April 14 meeting, the board was given copies of poultry house setback ordinances from surrounding counties to review.  At their meeting Tuesday evening, Caime said the board was given a first-draft of the new ordinance to look over.

“This is one of those things where you start with a big pile of papers and gradually narrow it down,” Caime said. “So they narrowed down to things that were important to them. I’m now going to compile that into a draft ordinance. Once they review the draft ordinance, then they’ll start the process.”

A first reading was to have taken place Tuesday night, but Caime says the Board decided to wait on that.

“We’re starting down a path of land-use controls, he said. “So, with something that monumental and controversial in some eyes, they really want to make sure they’re as transparent as possible. So, they didn’t want to rush and they wanted to make sure they had something fleshed out with the items that are important to them.”

Caime said for now, the Board is only looking at a very basic set back ordinance.

“Basically, they’re looking at 200 ft from the front, 200 ft from the side and 600 ft from the back,” Caime said. “A lot of these houses will have the exhaust fans that blow out the back, which is why they have the 600 ft in the back. They’re also talking about having a buffer, like trees or some other vegetation around it (poultry house).”

At their earlier meeting, the Board had voted in a moratorium on new poultry farms until the new ordinance is in place.

At Tuesday’s meeting, six poultry farmers came forward asking for variances because of construction already in progress on their farms.

Caime said all six were granted variances.

“They had already started their work prior to the moratorium and they had proof,” he said. “Some had started as early as last fall. So, the board went ahead and approved the variances.”

Caime said the new poultry house setback ordinance will require three readings before it becomes law.