(A) Purpose.
(1) This section is adopted for the protection of farming interest and to promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare by regulating confined animal feeding operations. It is intended to protect property values, and minimize conflicts between farmers and rural residential uses while enhancing and protecting the physical and scenic appearance of the county as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan.
(2) Confined feeding is defined as the feeding of animals in a confined area according to the following state regulations:
(a) Three hundred or more cattle;
(b) Six hundred or more swine or sheep; and
(c) Thirty thousand or more fowl.
(B) Development standards.
(1) All confined feeding operations must conform to I.C. 13-18-10 including all amendments.
(2) All non-farm residential uses and confined feeding operations must also meet the following standards.
(a) All structures and confined lots designed to house or contain livestock should be set back 500 feet from any existing residence except that of the confined feeding operator.
(b) All structures and confined lots designed to house or contain livestock should be set back 1,000 feet from any church, business, school, recreational area (public or private) or public buildings, and 1,300 feet from any area zoned residential or any area that has a recorded residential plot.
(c) 1. All structures should be setback from a public road right-of-way as stated in divisions (B)(2)(a) and (B)(2)(b).
2. If the waste handling facility of an operation is an open earthen pit, the setback distance should be increased to 1,000 feet in division (B)(2)(a) above; 1,500 and 2,000 feet respectively in division (B)(2)(a) above; and no less than 50 feet in division (B)(2)(c)1.
(4) No residential structures except that of the confined feeding operation may be constructed within 500 feet of an existing or granted (permit or otherwise) confined feeding operation.
(5) No church, business, school, recreational area (public or private) or public building may be constructed or operated within 1,000 feet of an existing or granted (permit or otherwise) confined livestock or poultry feeding operation.
(Ord. passed 7-20-1992)