Allen Harim Foods wins special-use exemption

Sussex County Board of Adjustment has approved a special-use exception to allow a chicken deboning operation at the Allen Harim site in Millsboro. Despite opposition, the board voted 4-0 May 7 to allow the operation at the former Vlasic pickle plant property.

The new use was opposed by neighbors of the plant who fear it will contribute to pollution of local wells and add nutrients to groundwater. Before the meeting, two nonprofit groups protested Allen Harim's application on The Circle in Georgetown.

"There has been significant evidence that the community would be at an increased risk for pollution and adverse effects of this operation. This isn't a poultry problem, this is a democracy problem," said Maria Payan of the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project. "We must learn from previous mistakes and realize that clean water is not a partisan issue; it is something everyone should be entitled to."

The special-use exception allows Allen Harim to convert 50,000 square feet of the 453,000-square-foot building for a new deboning operation. Another 20,000 square feet of the facility is being renovated into the company's corporate headquarters. The facility lies on land zoned HI-1, heavy industrial, and it was a pickle-processing plant for four decades.

Under the proposal, processed chicken would be trucked from Allen Harim's Harbeson plant to Millsboro for deboning, packaging and shipping. The plant would process about 2 million pounds of chicken per week operating with one shift. Officials said they would hire 185 employees. Waste bone material would be shipped back to the Harbeson plant for disposal.

During deliberations, board members noted the site is zoned heavy industrial and has been used industrially for 40 years. Representatives of Allen Harim Foods LLC and opponents of the plan both discussed increased traffic, noise, dust, vibrations, fire concerns, environmental effects, human health effects, wastewater handling, odors and possible property depreciation.

Allen Harim officials noted the deboning facility will produce less wastewater than an earlier proposed use, with no discharge to be put in the neighboring stream.

The panel insisted agencies including the Delaware Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office will be involved in ensuring that policies, laws and procedures are followed. 

Before the unanimous vote to approve the application, board member John M. Mills proposed amendments to limit the size and scope of the deboning operation, to ensure state-of-the-art fire and spray irrigation systems are installed, and to require permits from all state agencies are in order.