A Sacramento County community is pushing back against a proposed slaughterhouse and its planned “kill floor,” arguing that bringing livestock processing to their rural neighborhood could threaten their quality of life.
Known as “Greenfarm,” the 20-acre project was approved in July and narrowly withstood an appeal filed by residents of the Rio Linda-Elverta area.
Neighbors have raised concerns about the potential effects on children, possible contamination and the odors associated with slaughtering livestock.
“We live about 600 feet from the back of their property and we see it all,” one community member said during public comment at the Sacramento County Planning Commission’s Aug. 24 meeting.
“My kids play in a seasonal pond that we have in our backyard and it flows directly from their property. Are they still safe to play there?”
“I’m just glad I don’t live next door, I’ll say that, but I know there are some folks here that do,” another speaker said.
The proposed operation would house livestock and serve customers seeking as many as 30 custom slaughter services each week.
Bahadur Amiri, the project’s owner, says Sacramento needs additional halal slaughtering services.
“It’s not easy when you’re just by yourself and the whole community comes against you,” Amiri said.
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Joseph Devlin, a member of the Sacramento Planning Commission, supported the proposal. He said a local slaughtering facility could benefit the community.
“We are and have claimed to be the Farm to Fork capital of the world. However, one of the, probably, biggest gaps within that Farm to Fork is the actual acquiring and harvesting of meat that is locally sourced,” he said.
Residents, however, continue to question what the slaughterhouse could bring to their backyards, particularly when it comes to odors.
“Let’s talk about the smells and the fact that we have a nice breeze out there,” said Michelle Anderson, who lives near the proposed facility. Anderson also worries that the operation could contaminate her well water.
Amiri said he respects the concerns of nearby residents but maintains that the facility will not create odors because the operation will be sealed.
“It’s going to be sealed tank,” he said. “This operation is not going to happen in the middle of the yard, [it] is going to be inside the building and that building will be inspected by the building department.”
According to Fox 40, the project is expected to proceed, with no additional public hearings scheduled.
Even so, community members told the outlet they remain hopeful because the proposed slaughterhouse has not yet been finalized.