Planning commission backs local micro‑processing facility to serve Hunters for the Hungry

The Southampton County Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval of a rezoning and conditional‑use permit for a proposed USDA micro‑processing facility at 34574 Smiths Ferry Road.

Jay Randolph, the planning secretary, said the dual application (rezoning of about 0.75 acres from R‑2 to conditional M‑2 and a conditional‑use permit) was filed by Christine Sullivan. Sullivan told the commission the facility would handle both USDA‑inspected domestic animals and non‑inspected wild game and would partner with local charities, including Hunters for the Hungry and regional food banks, to distribute donated meat.

“Sellers are booked out a year and a half,” Sullivan said of regional processors; she added that her facility would address a “massive need” for local processing capacity. Sullivan said she expects to process about 12 deer per day working alone and that USDA requirements — a holding pen for animals that exhibit illness and strict temperature controls for stored product — will be followed.

Public comment included support from Christian Leeds, director of product sourcing for a regional food bank, and representatives of Family Fraternity and other nonprofits who said a nearby processor would expand donated‑meat distribution in Southampton County.

Commissioners questioned traffic, parking, setbacks, waste disposal and whether the applicant had USDA approval for her proposed building plans. Sullivan said she had preliminary approvals and would follow USDA guidance; she also said offal and other waste would be placed in sealed containers and removed weekly and that the business would operate by appointment.

After discussing a set of nine conditions in the staff packet — including same‑day processing, a requirement that animals not be kept overnight and limits on employee counts — commissioners moved and seconded a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to approve the rezoning and attach the conditional‑use permit conditions. The motion included an amendment to allow extended processing hours (7 a.m.–9 p.m.) during the county’s deer hunting season. The commission’s recommendation passed unanimously.

The commission’s vote is advisory; final action will come at a future Board of Supervisors meeting.

The commission also approved minutes from its January meeting at the start of Tuesday’s session.

Next step: staff will forward the commission’s recommendation, conditions and the application materials to the Board of Supervisors for a public hearing and final decision.