A poultry farm south of Kleefeld has been given permission to nearly double the size of its operation.

Burnbrae Farmco 19 Inc owns and operates a poultry farm on an 80-acre site along Provincial Road 216. Representatives appeared before Hanover Council on Wednesday seeking both a conditional use order and variance order, to expand the operation.

The intent is to increase from 90,000 layers to 200,000 layers and increase from 37,500 pullets to 42,000 pullets. 

According to Hanover's Planning Manager Jeremy Neufeld, this change results in an increase from 871 animal units to 1799 animal units. To accommodate this expansion, the applicants plan to construct two new free-run barns and manure sheds. An existing barn on the site has already been decommissioned. 

Neufeld says that due to the size of the operation, a technical review was completed. The report indicates that the proposed operation will not create a risk to health, safety, or the environment.

As part of this proposal, the applicants also requested a change to the required separation distance to a designated residential area. 

Neufeld says Burnbrae Farmco has operated the site in question for many years.

"They have proven to be responsible operators in the RM of Hanover and maintain a tidy site," says Neufeld. "The Municipality has never received complaints from any of the sites they operate."

Neufeld adds that the covered manure storage buildings they propose will all but eliminate odours from the site, which will limit the potential impact to neighbouring residents. 

Council voted in favour of approving both the conditional use and variance order. 

"Council was in favour of the application," says Reeve Jim Funk. "And they are able to go ahead and build."

Funk says the municipality has never had any complaints with Burnbrae, noting they keep a very tidy yard. 

Meanwhile, Funk says it is very important to see growth like this in the agriculture sector. He notes expansions like this generate both tax dollars and jobs within the municipality.