MONROE - Klondike Cheese Company is planning to expand its existing facilities. The Green County Board of Adjustment on Wednesday agreed to allow the company to add up to 70,0000-square-feet to its building, following a public forum.
Klondike requested a conditional use permit for the expansion. Company officials said they are planning a two-stage project. The first would add 70,0000-square-feet to the east end of an existing building for additional warehouse and cold storage.
The second stage, to the south side of the company's Feta building, will be a combination production, packaging and milk receiving area.
"These areas could be added as one project or they might be divided ... adding the packaging area then the production and milk receiving," said Klondike's President, Ron Buholzer, in a letter to the board.
But he added that "the milk receiving area is in question right now and may not happen."
He told the board there are no specific floor plans for the project thus far because the firm is testing potential machinery for the expansion. Once those decisions are made, a floor plan can be developed.
In January 2005, Klondike applied for a conditional use permit to "bring a legal non-conforming cheese facility into conformity with current zoning regulations."
At that time, the board agreed to grant the request only if the facility's use is limited to cheese production, processing and distribution.
William Hermanson told officials he was concerned about how the project would impact the water treatment system and also his well. Hermanson said his daughter visited him a few months ago and could taste a difference in the well water, compared to when she visited a year ago.
"It is a coincidence, I don't know, but I wanted everyone to be aware," Hermanson said.
The board recommended that Hermanson test his well water, and Klondike offered to help pay for the base testing.
Klondike requested a conditional use permit for the expansion. Company officials said they are planning a two-stage project. The first would add 70,0000-square-feet to the east end of an existing building for additional warehouse and cold storage.
The second stage, to the south side of the company's Feta building, will be a combination production, packaging and milk receiving area.
"These areas could be added as one project or they might be divided ... adding the packaging area then the production and milk receiving," said Klondike's President, Ron Buholzer, in a letter to the board.
But he added that "the milk receiving area is in question right now and may not happen."
He told the board there are no specific floor plans for the project thus far because the firm is testing potential machinery for the expansion. Once those decisions are made, a floor plan can be developed.
In January 2005, Klondike applied for a conditional use permit to "bring a legal non-conforming cheese facility into conformity with current zoning regulations."
At that time, the board agreed to grant the request only if the facility's use is limited to cheese production, processing and distribution.
William Hermanson told officials he was concerned about how the project would impact the water treatment system and also his well. Hermanson said his daughter visited him a few months ago and could taste a difference in the well water, compared to when she visited a year ago.
"It is a coincidence, I don't know, but I wanted everyone to be aware," Hermanson said.
The board recommended that Hermanson test his well water, and Klondike offered to help pay for the base testing.