Court Nixes Pig-Raising in Woodward Township
Defendant Will Comply With Ruling
LOCK HAVEN — Clinton County Judge Michael Salisbury has ruled that Woodward Township barn owner John Grand must remove 400 pigs from his barn along German Road near Swissdale.
Grand’s attorney Marc Drier said today Grand will comply with the court directive and is studying options for the animals’ removal. The court on Thursday issued an order that Grand “immediately cease and desist” from using his barn “for the maintenance, raising and commercial sale of pigs” pending further order.
Woodward Township had gone into court a month ago seeking an injunction, claiming the pig-raising was not a permitted use per township zoning regulations. Some 400 piglets had been delivered to the barn in mid-March. The court Thursday said they had to go. Drier today said his client is looking at possibilities to comply with the court order, indicating the need for some “reasonable time” to make arrangements for the removal of the animals.
While Judge Salisbury ordered the pigs’ removal, he denied a township request for a preliminary injunction relative to farming on the 67-acre Grand holding at 209 German Road. Grand maintains the use of that acreage for agricultural purposes is “grandfathered” and should be a permitted use in what is now a Rural Center Zoning District.
Drier said he believed his client will ultimately prevail; he had argued that raising piglets to market is not a violation of the zoning regulation because the acreage has been historically used for farming. He also said today there had been a mistake made by the acting township zoning officer in completing a form for construction of the replacement barn which now houses the pigs. He said that mistake has caused “some confusion” in the matter which he said will be addressed as the court proceeding continues relative to the township request for a permanent injunction.
