GLOVERSVILLE - A proposal to operate a kosher slaughterhouse in a small portion of an old tannery property has sparked concern from neighboring businesses and residents.
Peter Farkas, a longtime tanner and New York City businessman, owns the property at 177 W. Fulton St.
He is seeking a use variance from the city Zoning Board of Appeals to operate the facility out of a cinderblock building on about 20 percent of the property.
The project cannot move forward without the use variance because "slaughterhouse" is specifically noted in the City Code as an operation prohibited in the M-manufacturing zone in which the property is located
Farkas said the operation, which would provide glatt-kosher and halal meat, would involve a small number of animals delivered and processed to order on a same-day cycle for catering partners with whom he's working.
The project was tabled in December as board members awaited additional information from Farkas.
On Wednesday, the ZBA scheduled a public hearing on the project for 7 p.m. March 7 after Farkas said at the meeting he would provide details of economic hardship still missing from the application.
The ZBA will have 62 days from the close of the public hearing to make its decision.
Anthony Leo, of Anthony Leo's Beauty Studio on Western Boulevard, already has collected nearly 130 signatures of nearby business patrons and city residents opposing the project. He said surrounding businesses have additional signatures.
"A business of this nature will degrade our property value even more than the already abandoned and unkempt tanneries. The location of the proposed slaughterhouse is in close proximity to a restaurant, elementary school, a children's dance studio, beauty aesthetics studio and personal residences," the petition states.
John Marsh, of John's Auto Service Center, located at 182 W. Fulton St., questioned how meat could safely be butchered near a longtime tannery site.
"I don't think it's a good idea. This [place] was used for tanning deer hides. I don't know how they're going to do it. I think it's a bad idea, especially for the neighborhood - especially the folks who live right here," Marsh said.
ZBA members raised similar questions on Wednesday, and Farkas said the state Department of Health would make sure the site was up to health codes.
"Everything is going to be up to code. You can't slaughter unless everything is clean," Farkas said.
ZBA members told Farkas he must provide "dollars and cents" proof of hardship that is not self-created.
Further, the hardship relating to the property must be unique and not pertain to the entire neighborhood.
The ZBA has to determine whether granting the use variance would alter the character of the neighborhood.
If the project moves forward, it would eventually be heard by the county Planning Board - because it's on a state road - and the city Planning Board.
On Wednesday, ZBA members questioned Farkas on possible odors from the operation and how it would function. Farkas said all skins would be cured with salt, and that no beaming processes will be involved to remove hair from the skins.
He said he plans to sell the skins to local companies and support eight full-time employees.
Any waste from animals would be picked up by a waste hauling company daily, he said, and animal byproducts would be sold.
Glatt-kosher is the strictest standard of Kashrut, or the Jewish dietary laws.
Eventually, he said, he would like to resume a tannery operation there after the slaughterhouse is operational.
Amanda Whistle covers Gloversville news. She can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.
