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California residents were left in outrage after plans to build a massive halal slaughterhouse moved forward under a technicality.
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plans → see → technicality
Bahadur Amiri initially filed an application with the Sacramento County Planning Commission last year to turn a 20-acre site along Palladay Road in Rio Linda into what he described as a 'small-scale slaughterhouse.'
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he → file → slaughterhouse
But the project faced backlash almost from the start as community members lashed out at the idea of an unrestricted 'kill floor' going up right next to their homes.
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floor → face → homes
They have repeatedly expressed their concerns about the environmental impact of the project, as some shared their fears they could hear the animals being killed.
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animals → express → fears
Still, the Sacramento County Planning Commission approved the project in July, and narrowly rejected an appeal from members of the Rio Linda – Elverta community at its meeting on August 24, Fox 40 reported.
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Fox → approve → August
The commission was deadlocked as they voted on the appeal that night, but under county code, the tied 2-2 vote resulted in the appeal being denied and the project being cleared to move forward.
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project → vote → code
The denial came against the recommendation from the planning advisory council, sparking hope from some community members that it is not a done deal.
However, the denial of the appeal paves the way for Amiri to move forward with the licensing process without any further public hearings.
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Amiri → come → hearings
Plans for a 'small-scale slaughterhouse' on a 20-acre lot in Rio Linda, California have moved forward despite community members expressing their concerns
The Sacramento County Planning Commission
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members → move → Commission
was deadlocked as they voted on an appeal that would have prevented the project from moving forward, but under county code, the tied 2-2 vote resulted in the appeal being denied
In his application, viewed by the Daily Mail, Amiri argued the slaughterhouse, which he is naming 'Greenfarm,' is 'specifically designed to meet the cultural and religious needs of the Afghan and broader Muslim communities in the area, who currently lack a local space for ritual animal slaughter in accordance with Islamic law.
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who → deadlocke → law
The facility will allow for humane, halal slaughter within a fully-enclosed, fenced covered building, ensuring that all activities remain private and discreet.
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activities → allow → building
'The facility will also include appropriate waste management and sanitation measures, fully complying with all relevant laws and regulations to ensure environmental safety and animal welfare
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facility → comply → safety
,' the application reads.
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application → read → ?
If approved, the site, which currently houses an abandoned single-family home as well as several barns and animal enclosures, would house livestock and accept customers for up to 30 custom slaughter services each week.
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which → approve → services
But community members spoke out against the proposal one-by-one at the hearing on August 24.
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members → speak → August
'We live about 600 feet from the back of their property and we see it all,' one woman claimed.
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woman → live → it
'My kids play in a seasonal pond that we have in our backyard, and it flows directly from their property.
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it → play → property
Are they still safe to play there?'
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they → play → ?
She then went on to claim she would be able to hear the animals being killed at the property.
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animals → go → property
Michelle Anderson, who said she lives catty-corner to the site, also noted she has a well on her property.
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she → say → property
Applicant Bahadur Amiri initially filed an application with the Sacramento County Planning Commission last year.
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Amiri → file → Commission
He spoke out defending his proposal at a meeting on August 24
His plans call for a 'fully-enclosed, fenced covered building, ensuring that all activities remain private and discreet'
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activities → speak → building
The site currently houses an abandoned single-family home as well as several barns and animal enclosures
'
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site → house → home
I'm really concerned about the water and what it will do to my water, and I won't know until it's too late,' she bemoaned.
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she → do → water
Anderson also worried about peace of mind in the home she had hoped to retire in.
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she → worry → home
'Let's talk about the smells and the fact that we have a nice breeze out there,' she said.
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she → let → breeze
One man who spoke at the hearing further said he is a 'strong believer in personal property rights.
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he → speak → rights
'I believe you should be able to do whatever you want on your property as long as it's legal, and that it doesn't have a substantial negative effect on neighbors in your community - which I believe this project does,' he argued.
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he → believe → community
Others also expressed their concerns over traffic increases, reduced property values and animal exploitation.
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Others → express → increases
One woman expressed her concerns that her children will no longer be able to play in their seasonal pond
A man at the meeting argued the project has 'a substantial negative effect on neighbors'
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project → express → neighbors
But the planning board also heard from Amiri, who defended his proposal as he lamented: 'It's not easy when you're just by yourself and the whole community comes against you.'
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community → hear → you
He noted that he addressed many of the issues residents' raised in the past.
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residents → note → past
'It's going to be [a] sealed tank,' Amiri said.
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Amiri → go → ?
'This operation is not going to happen in the middle of the yard, [it] is going to be inside the building and that building will be inspected by the building department.'
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building → go → department
In the end, Planning Commissioner Joseph Devlin agreed that the business could promote a more sustainable food system for the region.
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business → agree → region
'We are, and have claimed to be, the Farm to Fork capital of the world,' he noted.
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he → claim → world
'However, one of the probably biggest gaps within that Farm to Fork is the actual acquiring and harvesting of meat that is locally sourced.'
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that → source → meat
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Planning Commission and Amiri for comment.
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Mail → reach → comment
The Aporia
