HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1639changing of agriculture -- its something well have to change. We've changed with the development that we've
seen all over the communities. We deal with it everyday with increased traffic and things of that sort. I won't
sit here and say that there will not bean accident. I won't sit here and say there won't be something that will
happen in the future of my lifetime, because if I could tell the future in that way, I'd get paid a lot more
money then Iget now. Icon assure you of that. But, I will say this, that if the communities are willing to work
together and adjust to this change .... agriculture is changing, and we have to adjust to this change and we have
to meet these needs to secure this beautiful rural landscape that we've enjoyed for generations If our farm
families are not allowed to adjust to these concerns, and these needs, and these markets, then youregoing to
see a lot more zoning problems then yau�-e seeing tonight I'm heavily for the proposed site and I'm sorry that
its brought concern to our neighborhood But I know that in the future, after this project is complete, that
well be able to live in harmony and everybody will enjoy the rural infrastructure and the rural life that for
generations our families have worked hard to create. Also, before I leave tonight l think heavy industrial and
heavy manufacturing are not fair to these proposals, for this proposal. Yes, there'll be some more trucks, but
its not anything in the magnitude that you d see at the Lowes Distribution Center or something of that sort. I
hope in the future that the leadership of our communities, and the leadership of these counties, will setup
some zoning for ag-business to better help it grow for our businesses and families
Jeff McNeely: I'm Jeff McNeely, owner of 6 6 M Milling. We manufacture livestock feeds Also, I happen
to double as being on the planning board of Iredell County. I will come to you in two facets and try to came as
quick as I can. I really didn't intend to speak on this tonight. You�-e actuallygoing to hear me on another case
tonight. First, I come to you on the manufacturing side of livestock feeds We �-e going to bring a product or
products a lot closer to the consumers. Iredell County is one of the largest consumers of feedstuffs because
we're one of the largest counties that has more cattle than any other county anywhere around. Also we have
probably about as many chickens as almost anywhere around. Unfortunately, most of the facilities that we pull
these products, similar to what they're going to make, are in Raleigh, NCor Kershaw, SCor other parts away
that are not in our local commerce. I think by keeping these products in our local commerce, we're going to
increase our economic development of agriculture and make it more profitable -- trot just the McLain. And
biodiese/ works for all people ingeneral who are in agriculture with livestock This is very critical. Because
right now, livestock farmers aren't making much money. I don't know if you've noticed, but it hasn't rained a
whole lot. So, odds are they are going to make less, and they're going to have to purchase more feedstuffs,
and I'm hoping from 6 d M Milling. But that might not be the case but in whatever case, these animals have to
be fed or be sold. And when the farm animals are sold, the farm goes next, and then development comes.
When this case came before me as a planning board member, I felt like, yes, this is a very rural community, but
true to what Sam Dobson just said we probably have some flaws and some loopholes or some places we don't
have in our zoning ordinances for agri-business And, agri-business isgrowing in size. It's not shrinking to the
small family farm with two cows that someone is milking in the back of a shed. We've got 1,000 cow dairies in
the county. We've got all types of things going on in the county as for asgrowth. Were having to get closer to
the consumer, we re having to get larger to compete and this is just one example of a farm that's already fairly
large taking some horizontal integration to grow even larger to compete. Cause were not just competing in
Iredell County, we're not just competing in North Carolina, we-e not just competing in the United States, were
competing in the world To do that we �-e going to have to change the way we think, especially in agriculture.
That's basically all% got to say. I'm for the zoning.
Jane Burris (opponent): I live on Snow Creek Road. Thankfuz y, I don't live as close as some of the neighbors
you've heard tonight speak. I don't have anything prepared, didn't really intend to speak. We've heard of all
the profitable, wonderful things, the flowery families that have been there for hundreds of years Mine has
too, I was a Cowan. I still don't see how you can expect those property owners immediately around thereto
accept the devalued property that they are going to have. I don't believe, and I don't think if you're being
honest with yourself that you can say, their property is notgoing to be greatly devalued At an infwvnational
meeting, Ron Smith, himself, said he would not want to live beside a biodiese/p/ant He also said, had this been
in Mooresville, we wouldn't be here tonight because it would have nevergotten this far. Jeff or Jim McNeely;
I'm sorry I didn't catch your first name, and I don't know you personally, but as a member of the planning
board, is that not a conflict of interest? That he would profit from it Should he not have recused himse/f.2
And (he) offered to not only approve it very quickly, if you've read the minutes from the planning board, but to
extend the hours from five days to six days and from 10 hours to 12 hours. I think that's a conflict of
interest, and I do oppose it
Ed Prenly (attorney for opposition): I present into evidence four of five pages of a petition that has been
passed and signed that reads: 'We the undersigned residents of Snow Creek Road, and immediate and
surrounding area, hereby petition that the proposed rezoning of and to heavy manufacturing conditional use be
denied,'bearing the name, address, and telephone number of 138 residents in that area. I would like to show
who all is here who is opposed to this. Would everyone (opposition) here, please stand up, so we can have a
count.
(Randy Bridges then counted the audience members in opposition. He reported there were 72 individuals)
Pressly continued- We are not here tonight to vote the McLain ngood people. They ore. We arenot here
tonight to vote whether alternate fuels are needed They are. We are here tonight to decide where the
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