Jon Zartman, project manager of land development, answered questions covering various aspects of the facility from attorneys for more than two hours during the conditional use public hearing attended by approximately 50 people at the Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Co.

Bollinger Solar LLC is proposing to construct a solar panel array and five chicken barns, each housing 70,000 chickens along Clarkstown Road.

The facility is to be located on undeveloped land in an agricultural conservation district.

The hearing, continued from earlier this year, is required for the applicant to seek conditional use for operations of the facility.

Theresa Tarquinio of Muncy explains her concerns about a proposed solar farm in Muncy during a conditional use hearing DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The chicken coops are reportedly a joint venture between Bollinger and Ag Ventures known as Sunny Side Up Farms LLC.

Zartman said the operation would include a centrally located manure storage area.

He answered questions regarding traffic, noise, odors, and other concerns that have been raised about the operation, although not always to the satisfaction of everyone in attendance.

He testified that a nutrient management plan has not yet been submitted by the applicant.

“It’s not required at this point,” he said.

Plans call for the manure storage site to follow setback requirements from the property line and not be in a flood plain, according to Zartman.

At one point, he was asked by Zachary DuGan, an attorney for Muncy Area Neighborhood Preservation Coalition, a residential group opposing the plan, if as much as 10 million pounds of manure will be generated annually.

“That could be an over-reach,” Zartman said.

Zartman testified that no odor abatement plan has been prepared but conceded that a degree of odor will be generated from the site.

“The applicant will be addressing odor … yes,” he said.

There are no plans, he conceded, to provide bathroom facilities for people at the site, nor are they required for such agricultural operations.

The facility will include minimal lighting and signage that will not adversely impact the surrounding area.

“The light will be shielded and directed downward,” he said.

Zartman testified that “vegetative buffer” is being proposed to shield the facility from neighboring residents.

Zartman addressed the issue of truck traffic to and from the facility with plans calling for one truck visit per building each day.

He presented sketches that illustrate how trucks will navigate from roads into and out of the site.

Three Muncy area residents asked Zartman questions about the operation near the conclusion of the hearing.

Harvey Stauffer, 1156 Middle Road, Muncy, wanted to know what level of noise will result from generators operating at the site.

Zartman said he did not know.

Layne Oden, a Muncy attorney, questioned why nutrient management and odor abatement plans have not been submitted by the applicant. He also asked why some aspects of the original plan seem to have been altered.

Theresa Tarquinio raised concerns about water runoff from manure and hazardous chemicals from the operation.

Zartman responded to Tarquinio that such questions were beyond his scope of expertise.

The hearing is to be continued at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4.

A separate hearing to consider the solar aspect of the operation is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20.