Plan to bring 8,500 chickens to North Barrington farm draws heavy criticism
Plans for at least 8,500 chickens on a commercial farm drew heavy criticism before they were rejected by the North Barrington zoning board of appeals at public hearing Tuesday night.
Anoosh and Alberta Varda of Barrington are seeking 17 variations from village code so they can have the large-scale poultry operation on the southwest corner of Route 59 and Scott Road. The Vardas' attorney, Carlton Odim, said about 1,700 chickens already are on the property.
The meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd of about 70 people mostly opposed to the plan. Zoning board of appeals members agreed the Vardas did not make a case to grant the variances to allow the chicken farm.
The zoning panel's recommendation will be forwarded to the village board, which gets the final say on issues.
North Barrington had no say in the use of the slightly more than 5 acres until the village forcibly annexed the previously unincorporated land in Lake County through a series of moves in January. Tuesday's advisory public hearing was the start of the village's formal approval process.
Odim said the Vardas want to raise chicks to when they turn 12 to 14 weeks old, then have them shipped to producers when they are considered broilers, or chickens raised for food. Lake County officials said that last year egg production was the chicken farm's intent.
While Odim said a maximum of 8,500 birds are planned for the site, the North Barrington zoning board of appeals agenda stated a variance from village code was requested for up to 20,000 chickens. Odim added the Vardas never asked to be in North Barrington before they started the chicken farm with Lake County government's consent.
"I will ask you again ... that you make a recommendation to grandfather in the Vardas," Odim said.
However, zoning board of appeals Chairman John Cifonelli said it's incumbent on the Vardas to follow local law. He questioned why the Vardas would have invested a reported $2 million in the chicken operation, which includes three coops, before gaining formal permission.
"If I had my money at risk, I would want my permits beforehand," Cifonelli said.
Noise, odor and potential environmental problems from chicken waste were among the concerns expressed by the opponents. However, Patrick Potts, who lives across the street from the farm, was the lone supporter who said he never has smelled chicken odors.
Lake County last year issued building permits for a roughly 12,000-square-foot pole barn and two smaller structures for the farm.