The Lycoming County Planning Commission approved a land development plan that would see a chicken farm added to the property owned by local farmer Amos Glick, at its most recent meeting.

The plan will include the construction of a 4928-square-foot chicken barn, 672-square-foot egg room, 126 square foot grain bin and a 1,325-square-foot stone area and a storm water management system containing one basin on 112.75 acres at Glick’s property, 576 Walnut Run Lane. The intended construction would encompass parts of Bastress and Limestone townships.

The meeting drew a large and vocal crowd in opposition to the plan’s passage.

Representing much of the group was Jeffrey Brooks, of Brooks Engineering Services, who said, after studying the plans and application, 11 deficiencies stuck out to him. Several attendees yielded time to Brooks, allowing him to speak beyond the three-minute time limit typically imposed on public comments by the committee.

Brooks cited issues related to use of a private road for transportation; paving requirements; the lack of a state Department of Environmental Protection National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, which is required for disturbances of one acre or more; storm water management; the existence of a sink hole on the property; lack of a nutrient management plan; springs and wetlands in the developmental area; and soil testing and excavation.

Chief among Brooks and attendees’ concern was over an abundance of flies anticipated to be attracted to the site by the increased manure, noting the absence of a fly abatement plan, suggesting that three steps Glick could do to alleviate the issue, including injecting insecticide into the feed, which kills larva in the manure; the introduction of beetles into the manure, which digests the manure; and providing proper ventilation, drying the manure out.

“What you do as a precedent here is really going to impact how things are handled down the road. And the people who live in this area have to live with the consequences of what he’s doing,” Brooks said.

“That’s not to say he’s not entitled to farm. We do believe that he is entitled to farm. He’s not entitled to have a negative effect, where people can’t enjoy the outdoors during the summer, it’s just not right,” he said.

While also noting the fly issue, Limestone Township resident and local medical doctor Nicholas Dillman, whose property immediately adjoins Glick’s, questioned the health effects such a setup might create, stressing not only decreased air quality that could aggravate asthma symptoms, but also the possibility of nearby private wells being contaminated by waste water run-off.

He also deemed the operation a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), which he said had previously been rejected from Limestone Township. Also raising concern over what he said was the inhumane treatment of the chickens in such a setup.

“Studies show that living within 500 yards and one kilometer of a poultry farm increases exposure to airborne particles containing microbes such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, endotoxins and other pathogens which have been known to increase the risk of respiratory infections, particularly among older adults. It’s also been discovered that living near poultry farms increases the likelihood of developing hematological cancers, including childhood leukemia and additional cancers in adults. Poultry farms are also known to heart for pathogens such as salmonella, E coli and listeria,” said Ryan Eck, who lives across the road from Glick’s property.

“This is not about stopping farming. That’s important to know, it’s about ensuring that a development of this magnitude is done correctly,” said Nippenose Tavern owner Ray Smith, after reiterating several of the already heard concerns.

Despite these concerns, the commission was assured that the county Zoning Administrator, Director of the Department of Planning and Community Development, Jenny Piccianno, consulting Century Engineering, and county Conservation District all found the plans to be free of deficiencies.

Still several of the concerns raised were addressed during the meeting, with Subdivision & Land Development Administrator Christ Hodges noting that the disturbed area of the property would only amount to .91 acres, negating the need for a NPDES permit.

Just prior to the meeting, Glick submitted a fly abatement program, in which Glick promised to introduce parasitic wasps and 2,000 hister beetles, both of which lay eggs in fly pupae, killing them before maturity.

Fly sprays will also be used on the walls where flies tend to congregate, and if need be, fly papers to monitor their numbers, however both methods will have a detrimental effect on both the beetles and wasps, Glick’s plan stressed.

It was also stressed the building to be constructed would not be a highrise, which tends to create conditions more favorable to wet manure, in which flies prefer to lay their eggs.

Additionally, Glick explained that the chicken barn is expected to house 4,000 birds, 106 below the allowable threshold allowable for 44 by 112 foot structure.

Further Picciano stated that the county Conservation District determined that the development does not qualify as a CAFO.

In the end, the commission added four additional conditions, including the installation of a four strand high tensile fence with a gate to keep animals out of the storm water area; further investigation into whether a highway occupancy permit is be required for trucks to travel the private access road; the addition of the fly abatement plan presented at the meeting; and address of any right of way issues and access to the site, prior to ultimately passing the plan.

“One of our goals here is to spur meaningful public discussion on matters that are in front of the planning commission. So I thank you all for taking the time to do that,” said Chairman Jason Bogle.

With approval from the county commission, the plan will now head back to the township planning commissions.