AUBURN — The Planning Board will continue to examine changing what’s allowed in a zone that covers about half the city, keeping plans for a Trapp Road slaughterhouse alive.

The decision followed more than an hour of discussion before the City Council Monday and walk-outs by two councilors, Daniel Herrick and Michael Farrell.

“What did we accomplish?” Herrick asked midway through the discussion. Meetings will “continue and continue.” Then he stood up.

“We’re screwing up business in this city,” he said as he walked out. 

A few minutes later, Farrell left, too, saying he needed a “recess,” but he came back a short time later.

The slaughterhouse issue was brought to the council by City Manager Glenn Aho. He said he wanted direction about whether the Planning Board ought to consider a change to the city’s zoning needed for the business to be allowed in an agricultural zone where the use is banned.

The asked-for change would allow permitted slaughterhouses to be run anywhere in Auburn’s Agriculture and Resource Protection zone, an area that covers roughly half of the city’s 65 square miles.

The proposal was created by Craig Linke, who wants to open Mainestock, a stand-alone slaughterhouse, on 21.5 acres at 512 Trapp Road. The operation would have a limited kitchen, preparing sausages and meat pies, he has said.

He submitted a petition to make the change in early October.

Since then, neighbors have been gathering on both sides.

Herrick has spoken out in favor of the business, saying a small slaughterhouse is needed for local farmers to thrive.

Others say they worry that their water will be spoiled and bugs will be a problem. 

Michelle Melaragno, of 576 Trapp Road, said she has felt ignored as the matter has gone from the City Council to the Planning Board and back again.

“What happens to our property values?” she asked. “What happens if our properties don’t sell?” 

She worries that no one in City Hall will listen if she later complains about the bugs or the smell or the water quality if it is harmed by the business, she said.

Aho insisted that she will have a chance to ask every question.

The proposal is scheduled to go to the Planning Board on Dec. 28 for a hearing. The board will then make a recommendation to the City Council.

All along the way, people will have a chance to speak, he said.

“We are not approving anything tonight,” Aho said. However, a draft of the meeting’s agenda had called for a resolution supporting the move. It was a mistake, Aho said.

In the end, the City Council voted down the nonbinding resolution in a vote of 1 to 6.

dhartill@sunjournal.com