The Nebraska Supreme Court decision cleared the way for a new poultry farm that will raise chickens for the Costco-affiliated Lincoln Premium Poultry.
In a unanimous decision on December 31, the court denied a two-part appeal of a decision from the Lancaster County Board to grant a permit for the proposed farm, which is planned for a farm in the southwest portion of the county, the Lincoln Journal Star reported.
The poultry farm was proposed in 2018 by landowner Randy Essink. The plan called for four large barns, with a capacity to raise about 190,000 broilers.
Neighbors and environmental groups opposed the planned farm, and the county board’s decision was appealed by three people. One of those to file the appeal has since died, but the two who are still living – E. Jane Egan and Janis Howlett -- earlier took the case to Lancaster County District Court, arguing that the board didn’t take property values and potential pollution into account.
Lancaster County District Court Judge Jodi Nelson initially dismissed Egan from the case because she didn’t live in close proximity of the proposed farm, ruling she had no standing. The judge also ruled against Howlett, saying the proposed farm meets and exceeds the criteria for approval.
The second appeal was also denied, with the court citing similar reasons.
Headquartered in Fremont, Nebraska, Lincoln Premium Poultry, owned in part by Costco Wholesale Corporation, began its broiler growing operations in 2019. The company’opened its $400 million poultry complex in Fremont. The complex includes a processing plant, hatchery and feed mill. The chickens processed at the Lincoln Premium Poultry plant will provide about 40% of the fresh chicken meat sold at Costco stores, according to the WATTPoultry.com Top Companies Database.
At full capacity, the Lincoln Premium Poultry plant was projected to process more than 2 million chickens per week.
