Local residents showed up at the Wicomico County Council meeting last night to express their dismay at the prospect of a poultry farm that is expected to have at least 10 chicken houses located just north of Salisbury along Naylor Mill Road.
Not only did the scale of the poultry house concern residents but they also worried about the impact on the Paleo Channel aquifer.
Council President John Cannon told residents that the research presented to them would be fully reviewed.
“Part of what the council is trying to determine what the impact is of the chicken houses on the environment as a whole – whether it’s the Paleo Channel or through the air as far as within the local communities. The council is inclined to create some kind of restrictions where we have proper setbacks, we have proper buffers, and proper berms if necessary.”
He noted that the large operation did take the council and residents by surprise.
“It was an unexpected surprise in the community – to the community to the county council and anyone
who is impacted by it. The houses they are building now are larger than what anyone is used to. And I can understand the shock value and why citizens are concerned about that.”
Council members met with Jack Lenox the county’s planning director on what type of regulations may be necessary. County Executive Bob Culver has questioned whether any new regulations are needed.
(Patrick Lieb contributed to this story.)
