COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Following a second well-attended public hearing and intensive deliberation, the Colusa City Council voted unanimously at a special meeting on Aug. 20 to uphold the Planning Director’s approval of a minor use permit authorizing a new animal processing facility at Colusa Industrial Properties.
The Council concluded there was no legal basis to deny the project, despite the public’s abhorrence to a slaughterhouse within city limits, because the project, which has been in the works for four years, will be located on property specifically zoned for such purposes.
“This process has gone through the phases,” said Councilman Greg Ponciano, who made the motion to approve. “It has been publicly noticed in the past. It has done everything it needed to do. There are 39 conditions on the permit and 11 subconditions on the permit, and I read every one of them in detail and tried to put them in context with some of the concerns. I’m very confident that the 50 conditions on that permit will address any concerns.”
The proposed slaughterhouse, operated by Brent Nobles, is located on the southwest end of the park, next to 30 acres of pastureland where cattle have been grazing for more than a decade. The project includes a 3,600 square foot “state-of-the-art” building designed for humane and sanitary processing of livestock, with strict regulatory oversight from USDA, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and regional water quality control authorities, officials said.
Ed Hulbert, CIP chief executive officer, said he specifically selected the site to minimize impact on residential areas, approximately one mile away from the nearest home and CIP’s own proposed new residential neighborhood, adding he does not believe Colusa residents will be adversely impacted.
“This is going to be the most highly regulated plant on the industrial park,” Hulbert said.
Despite assurances, community members voiced persistent concerns about odor, water runoff, pest control, and potential impacts on quality of life.
Local resident and appellant Mark Tomey, representing an organized group of opponents (CHAOS), voiced low confidence that Colusa officials will adequately enforce the conditions of approval, given the city’s earlier inadequacies at controlling odor coming from other projects on the park.
“I’m not against the slaughterhouse,” Tomey said. “I just want to make sure that the owners are accountable within the use permit and that there is enforcement. We want to mitigate odors, flies, birds, and ensure compliance in writing so that if they deviate, there are clear consequences.”
Residents also questioned the adequacy of existing environmental reports, given changes in local development since the original 2007 study, and sought clarity on emergency evacuation plans for livestock, manure removal, and wastewater management, but especially ongoing monitoring of the project by city officials for compliance.
“If the EIR was done today, there would be different results, different outcomes, and more restrictions,” Tomey said. “I don’t know if using an EIR from 2007 is even relevant.”
But without legal cause to deny the project, city officials emphasized the positives. The facility is expected to provide significant benefits to local ranchers and junior livestock producers by offering a convenient processing option close to home. The plant will also give the city a significant increase in property tax revenue, they said.
The Council acknowledged the public’s concerns with the project, but emphasized the permit’s numerous conditions, combined with the multi-layered regulatory oversight, should provide adequate safeguards. USDA-inspected facilities are monitored by the Food Safety and Inspection Service, with inspectors present during slaughter and processing to enforce sanitation standards and humane handling protocols. State-inspected plants, while limited to intrastate sales, must meet standards equivalent to federal requirements. Humane slaughter laws also require animals to be stunned and handled in ways that minimize stress and pain, with oversight extending to livestock transport.
Nobles said he estimates he will begin processing 10 animals (cattle, swine, lamb, goat) each day, while allowing for manageable growth under strict quality control guidelines. The facility is built with a refrigeration capacity of 80, but Nobles said that is not a realistic number anytime soon, if ever.
Although the council said the facility will comply with high standards designed to maintain the quality of life for Colusa residents, some individuals are still unconvinced.
“The fact that a slaughterhouse facility is being placed in the near proximity of an area that is zoned residential is an abject afront to the community for many reasons,” said Colusa veterinarian Dr. Christopher Impina, in a letter read by his daughter.