At next week’s meeting, Sackville town council will decide whether or not to consider making municipal plan and bylaw changes that would allow for an abattoir on Crescent Street between Fleet Street and Sloan Drive.
Planner Lori Bickford introduced the concept, but was light on details. The town does not release any reports or documents before or during its monthly discussion meeting. Further details are expected in advance of next week’s council meeting.
The abattoir would occupy half of a building currently on the corner lot of Crescent and Fleet, and would include a processing facility.
Bickford said, “one of the challenges that we have with abattoirs and slaughterhouses is that, you know, it’s generally a more sensitive, and what you would call a more intensive use of land.”
Bickford told council that adding an abattoir use to the industrial zone would not allow for an appropriate level of control, and so she recommended creating a new, special zone, to be used on a case-by-case basis.
“So what we would propose is that we would create an intensive resource zone, and this zone would only be permitted in those industrial-designated areas,” said Bickford. “And each request for this particular use would have to be done through a development agreement, which would mean that it’s more of a site specific analysis.”
Bickford said that by creating a new intensive resource zone which could only be enacted with a site specific development agreement, council will maintain more control over where and how such uses can be built.
Councillor Bruce Phinney asked for examples of other municipalities with abattoirs, and the Boudreau Farm and Meat Market in Memramcook was mentioned, along with two others near Petitcodiac and Beaubassin East.
Phinney also asked directly how the smell would be controlled. Bickford said in such an application, all the issues and concerns are identified and then it is up to the applicant to show how they have solved those issues before being approved by the town.
Councillor Bill Evans expressed support for consideration of the proposal.
“I want the record to show that Sackville is open for business,” he said. “This is a legitimate business. It’s an important business. I know people in the beef producing business and getting animals butchered is a challenge. So I think this is a great initiative. And I really like the flexibility of the development agreement that will make sure that it’s done in a way that is satisfactory to us so that we can say yes to business and make sure that you do it this way so that it works well for everyone.”
Council meets next on Monday September 14th
