P&Z Packet - 2/11/2021

Findings of Fact

Proposed Conditions of Approval

"All improvements for processing and handling of poultry litter to include nutrient recovery for natural gas and electrical generation shall be constructed and maintained accordance with the requirements of DNREC, the State Fire Marshal, and any other state or federal governmental agency with jurisdiction over the use of the site, or any modification thereto.

Less than 1.0 Acre Disturbed???

P&Z Agenda on 4/23/2020 "for Preliminary Site Plan approval for a revised Site Plan showing 7 storage tanks and other improvements."

"Staff are of the opinion that the proposed storage tanks, to be located in the already improved area between Building 1 and Building 3, do not represent an expansion of the Conditional Use area that was identified in applications CU 1314 and CU 1962. Therefore, staff are of the opinion that a public hearing is not required for the storage tanks and other works shown on the revised Site Plan. "

State and Local Economic Impact – The existing compost facility currently employs 12 people with responsibilities that range from: mechanic to pile turner to environmental manager. The anaerobic digestor at completion is envisioned to expand our staffing needs to approximately 50 individuals from the community with jobs that range from engineering and operation to trucking, maintenance and operations.

Additionally, the site will become a learning center focused on the agricultural jobs of the future. BDG plans to partner with University of Delaware both in extending current relationships at the Carvel campus as well as extending their reach to bring research staff to the facility on specific projects of interest of the agricultural community. And as a long-term community resident, BDG also plans to extend this academic exchange to include work with the Delaware Technical Community College and high schools in the area.

In terms of direct expense, a shovel ready project such as proposed for this facility has a budget of of over $25 million. Roughly half of this budget is directed at local trades from construction to concrete, fencing to project design.