Town of Union adopts zoning changes tightening livestock setbacks, limits outdoor food prep for home businesses

The Town of Union Board on June 4 adopted changes to local zoning that impose a 200‑foot setback for certain livestock structures and revise home‑occupation rules to add catering while excluding outdoor food preparation.

At a public hearing resident Charlie Wage asked for clarification of Paragraph G’s use of the term “maintain” and why the 200‑foot offset applies. Town Attorney Alan Pope said the language in Paragraph E targets structures that actually house livestock (barns and sheds used for keeping animals) and that the 200‑foot setback was intended to reduce nuisances such as manure and odors rather than to address every outbuilding on a property. “Under Paragraph E it is only structures — barns and sheds — that are keeping livestock; it is not every barn and shed,” Pope said.

Dylan Echols, speaking during the same hearings, asked whether the rules would involve special‑use permits or require neighbor signatures. Pope said the committee reviewed those options and recommended against special permits for residential neighborhoods and against relying on neighbor signatures because future residents could have different sensitivities such as asthma.

The minutes record the livestock amendment to Chapter 300, Section 300‑40.10 as adopted by the board; the home‑occupation amendment to Article 40, §300‑40.9 (which adds catering but prohibits outdoor cooking or smokers) was adopted on a 3–2 vote with Supervisor Robert Mack and Councilmen Joseph P. Nirchi, Sr. and David Kudgus voting yes and Councilmen Thomas R. Augostini and Frank J. Bertoni voting no. Both changes were moved from committee and enacted as local law amendments per the meeting minutes.

The board did not list additional implementation steps in the minutes; the amendments will be reflected in the Town’s Chapter 300 zoning code as adopted. The meeting minutes show the public hearings were published and posted on May 25, 2025.