The Gainesville City Council voted Tuesday to approve annexation and rezoning for a more-than 50-acre enclosed anaerobic digestion facility.
The council voted 4-1 in favor of the proposed development, with only Ward 3 Councilwoman Barbara Brooks voting against it.
“What I want to know is if your company is willing to designate a person on-site, who can handle questions and complaints,” Brooks said.
Brooks said she wants to ensure the people in her ward are not adversely affected by odors that may be produced by the facility.
“That is important to me because people contact me directly and they associate me with answers,” Brooks said. “It's also important for me to know what to tell [Residents] to do, and I got to have that information upfront.”
Chris Riley, who spoke on behalf of the applicants, said odors should not be an issue.
“To qualify to operate, they have to have a clean air permit by the state of Georgia,” Riley said. “The facility will have scrubbers in place. The facility is required by not only the city but the state of Georgia to have ongoing maintenance and permit updates, as well as adhere to all state and city ordinances and laws.”
Riley ensured there would be a source on-site to voice complaints.
“With my name being placed on it, and the former governor's name being placed on it, I will assure you today that we will have someone there at all times, to be able to take phone calls to be able to address community concerns,” Riley said.
The property located at the corner of Athens Highway and Monroe Drive and will be rezoned from Planned Industrial Development to Heavy Industrial.
The applicant, BDC Gainesville, LLC, said the facility will use organic feedstock produced by local food manufacturers and transform it into renewable energy.
