AMITY >> The Amity Township Planning Commission unanimously approved on July 13 to accept the Barry Shirey turkey farm preliminary land development plan for review.
Shirey, of 6359 Boyertown Pike (Route 562), and about 60 to 75 of his neighbors do not yet know if Shirey’s turkey farm operation will be approved by the township Board of Supervisors.
The last of five public hearings was held on June 16.
Township Supervisor Paul R. Weller, who also serves as chairman of the planning commission, said July 13 that he recently walked the proposed 75.68 acre site.
“I couldn’t even see [Marcus] Sadler’s parcel from where I was standing,” said Weller, adding, “I don’t see what all the fuss is about.”
“The ravine hill is so overgrown that I don’t think any water has gone down there [to the Monocacy Creek tributary] in years,” said Supervisor and Commission member Terry L. Jones.
Approximately seven “expert” witnesses were presented during the three-month process.
Some supported Shirey’s land development plans of building two, 700 by 63-foot, wood-frame, metal siding, metal roof, and dirt floor turkey houses with exhaust fans.
Shirey also plans to build a 40-foot-by-15-foot-by-6-foot-high composter, with a concrete apron, that will hold 900 tons of manure.
He testified that 19,200 birds would be raised in the two turkey houses, culminating in approximately 14,400 birds sold at the end of the 19-week process.
Three-and-a-half flocks would be raised each year on Shirey’s land that is zoned intensive agriculture, and which is located in the Rural Conservation Zone.
Other witnesses testified that the 75.68-acre turkey farm would jeopardize the economic, and health and safety of local properties and of residents.
The board said it will render a decision by Aug. 30.
Marcus Sadler, 6363 Boyertown Pike, lives across from the proposed site and is concerned that the turkey farm will adversely affect the reputation of his business, Magic Hill Farm.
“We take young horses, as babies, raise them to the age of three and train them to be show horses, pace horse, for the Olympics.”
“We had a fly problem, from the previous manure. It took 10 years to get rid of the flies. The flies follow the horses, they like to land on them — on their eyes (for the moisture), and they cluster around the rectum. The horses run and run to get away, they get sweaty, but the flies like that moisture.”
“There are almost no flies, but they aren’t a problem until they’re there.”
Two witnesses had testified that the employment of “best management practices” for poultry raising, pest and vermin management, and composting would ensure the health, safety, and wellness of the proposed total 33,600 turkey, as well as the 16 adjacent property owners.
