Nearby Neighbors Don't Want Slaughterhouse

North Carolina State University wants to build a new meat processing lab in Raleigh that would include a slaughterhouse, but those who live nearby don't much for the proposal. Many say they are concerned about the smell, pollution and traffic congestion that might result.

The current meat processing lab at NC State is vintage 1960's. University leaders say it's outdated and they want to build a new one. The proposed state-of-the-art building would include a slaughterhouse, meat and poultry processing facility, and a research lab.

The new building would be situated behind State's veterinary school. University leaders say it would be a small operation running only two days a week at the most. About processing 1,000 large animals and 4,000 chickens and turkeys would be processed there each year.

Nearby neighbors say they're skeptical.

"I don't think they will take a modern facility like this and do a minor amount of work in it," said Bill Waters, a concerned neighbor.

The Meredith Woods subdivision is about a mile and a half from the proposed processing lab. People who live here express many concerns.

"The smell that might come from the activity going on, the sewage if it's going to be a problem, and certainly the traffic congestion," said Jayne Pomer, neighbor.

"I guess on any given day that we process there could be up to three trucks coming in and out," said Duane Larick, food science professor. "It's really been carefully designed to not have a negative impact."

As for concerns about odor and waste, Larick says the holding areas for live animals and carcasses will be indoors. Any waste will flow right into the city's system.

The school can't build on its own. The city's planning commission is meeting next week to take up the proposal, and decide whether or not to approve the project, but it is not required to hold a public hearing on it.