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Commission approves rezoning to allow slaughterhouse on Wade Bulla Road over residents' objections
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Summary
After a public hearing with neighbors citing health, traffic and property-value concerns, the Carter County Board of Commissioners voted 15–4 with three abstentions to rezone a 33.5-acre property on Wade Bulla Road from A-1 to M-2, allowing an existing slaughterhouse operation to remain and expand.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners voted to rezone a 33.5-acre property on Wade Bulla Road, allowing an existing slaughterhouse operation to remain and expand.
At a public hearing, resident Evelyn Johns told the Board she and neighbors feared watershed contamination, reduced property values and increased large-truck traffic on the narrow road, and she presented letters from Holly Milhorn, Robert Calhoun and Patricia Scalf asking that the commission deny the rezoning. Johns said the facility's small signage forces large stock trailers onto private drives to turn around.
Representatives for the operator argued the facility has taken corrective steps and would bring local economic benefit. Jason Bryant, introduced as a representative of Bryant Beef, told the commission the company serves “308 local customers and 142 area farmers across East Tennessee” and said the operation could bring about $500,000 in annual revenue to the county; he said the business performs daily water testing and that prior composting that generated complaints has stopped. Owner Josh Grindstaff said licensing and regulatory issues other than rezoning have been resolved and that the business hopes to expand pickup, wrangling and boarding services.
Planning staff, represented by Chris Schuettler, told commissioners that the property is currently zoned A-1 and that the applicant sought M-2. Schuettler said the Regional Planning Commission denied the rezoning recommendation, though not unanimously.
Commissioner Randall Jenkins moved to rezone the property; Mark Blevins seconded. After Commissioners voted by district as requested, the motion carried: 15 yes, 4 no, 3 abstain. Several commissioners who voted in favor said the facility meets county zoning criteria and that the county has a local need for processing capacity.
The decision allows the operation to continue under M-2 zoning; Schuettler noted any future compliance failures could prompt appeals through the Board of Zoning Appeals and the courts if the Board pursues reversal. The rezoning decision followed an extended public comment period and technical discussion about septic systems and on-site wells.
The Board did not attach additional permitting conditions to the rezoning on the record; neighbors who opposed the change urged follow-up enforcement and monitoring.