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Houston County panel approves setback variance for Ellens feedlot pit near dwellings
Summary
Houston County officials granted an area variance to allow a concrete manure pit on the Ellens farm closer than the standard setback from nearby dwellings, after staff described incremental growth in animal-unit counts and neighbors said they did not object to the chosen location.
A Houston County board granted an area variance May 22 to allow a manure-storage pit at the Robert and Lori Ellens farm in Caledonia Township to be located closer than the county's standard setback from nearby dwellings.
At a public hearing, the Ellens (identified in testimony as the applicants) said the proposed pit would sit on the backside of their farm, away from the road, and is sized to store roughly 14 months of waste for about 140 animals. The applicant described the structure as concrete with 8-foot walls, covered with dirt and fenced at the top, and said neighbors who viewed the proposed location did not object.
Staff told the board the operation has grown incrementally over the past decade, and cited an increase in animal-unit counts in the packet; staff said the variance request was necessary because several dwellings under common ownership are within the statutory setback distance for registered feedlots. Staff recommended the variance cover three nearby dwellings.
During the hearing, staff read findings required by county zoning rules and the comprehensive plan, concluding the request: (1) is in harmony with official controls; (2) reflects practical difficulties that make strict compliance burdensome; (3) is due to site-specific conditions not created by the owner; (4) represents the minimum variance needed; (5) will not alter the essential character of the locality or substantially impair public health or property values; and (6) is not a use variance and does not reduce flood-protection standards required by state law. Board members voted to accept the findings.
A motion to grant the area variances for three dwellings was then called and carried by roll call; all members present voted in favor. One board member questioned the structure of reciprocal setback rules and said the current rule creates complications for existing feedlot owners seeking future improvements.
The board recorded the granted variance as an area variance for the Ellens property; the public-notice reading that opened the hearing stated written comments had been solicited in advance and that the matter was advertised May 7, 2025. The board closed the hearing and moved on to the next agenda item.
Quotes used in this report are from participants identified in the meeting transcript as the applicants and county staff.
