A Sacramento County community is pushing back against a proposed slaughterhouse — including its planned “kill floor” — that would bring livestock slaughter to their rural neighborhood.
The 20-acre development, known as “Greenfarm,” was approved in July and narrowly withstood an appeal filed by residents of the Rio Linda-Elverta community.
Neighbors say they fear the project could affect their children, contaminate nearby water and expose the area to the odor of slaughtered animals.
“We live about 600 feet from the back of their property and we see it all,” one community member said during public comment at a Sacramento County Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 24.
“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.
Under the proposal, the facility would house livestock and serve customers seeking as many as 30 custom slaughter services each week.
Bahadur Amiri, the project’s backer, said 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.
Joseph Devlin, a member of the Sacramento Planning Commission, supported the proposal. He said a local slaughtering facility could fill an important need in the region.
“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 operation could bring to their rural properties — particularly the potential for unpleasant 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 slaughterhouse. She also worries the facility could contaminate her well water.
Amiri said he understands and respects the concerns raised by nearby residents, but maintained that the facility would not create odors because it would 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 scheduled to proceed and will not face any additional public hearings.
Even so, community members told the outlet they remain hopeful because the proposed slaughterhouse has not yet been finalized.
