Planning panel approves Marion County food depackaging proposal despite neighborhood odor and water concerns

The Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval on April 27 of a special use permit for a food depackaging and composting operation proposed by Wood Resource Recovery LLC and Denali Water Solutions.

Staff Senior Planner Kenneth Odom said the operation would be sited in an existing commercial/industrial (M2) commerce district and described technical safeguards recommended in staff conditions, including baseline monitoring wells, monthly reporting to solid waste, and operational limits. "Staff's analysis is that this SUP meets the applicable criteria for approval," Odom said.

Applicant Levin Gaston said the depackaging technology separates packaging materials from organic food, produces a slurry used to enhance vegetative compost windrows, and would run under a Florida DEP permit. “We have done pilots with grocery partners and we do not anticipate odor problems when operated with best management practices,” Gaston said.

Denali Water Solutions environmental director Sarah Harrison told commissioners the company partners with facilities across the country and that the site would be permitted by FDEP; she said incoming foodstock would be processed within 24 hours and that storage on‑site is limited. "We will be required in our DEP permit to process [food waste] within 24 hours," she said.

Residents at the podium strongly opposed the proposal, citing proximity to Interstate 75, local businesses that rely on tourism, and an elementary school nearby. Tracy Walker, who said she owns the Canyon Zip Line and Adventure Park across the road, told the board: "It is equivalent to a dump, a city dump. You're putting a city dump in the middle of town here." Multiple neighbors described concerns about odor, flies and potential groundwater impacts.

Staff and the applicants responded with technical clarifications: the facility would be mostly a wet processing operation with trench drains and holding tanks designed to contain liquid byproduct; staff pointed to monitoring well requirements (TKN, NH4, orthophosphate and total phosphorus), baseline sampling, and 30‑day reporting to solid waste. Odom also noted that nuisance odors extending to the property perimeter would trigger immediate county response and a 10‑day mitigation requirement under the conditions.

Commissioners debated risk and enforcement. One commissioner who voted in favor said the SUP is for an initial five years and could be administratively renewed or revoked if conditions are violated; another cited past county experience with compost operations and expressed caution but supported the pilot. A motion to approve the SUP with staff conditions carried 3–1.

The approval is a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners; the SUP includes conditions on monitoring, operational limits, and contingency plans. The commission recorded that applicants had agreed to the monitoring provisions and contingency timelines described by staff. The final decision will be made by the county commission according to the normal review process.