Manure storage site gets recommended approval

Plans for a proposed manure storage facility in East Penn Township are OK, Carbon County officials said.

Last week, the county planning commission reviewed a number of plans, including a plan from Dennis A. and Deanna L. Cunfer. The plans call for constructing a 60-by-260-foot agricultural building, which includes a roofed heavy use area and manure storage structure at 351 Cunfer Lane. Justin L. Cunfer is listed as the developer.

Ivan O. Meixell Jr., county planner, said that there were only four minor issues with the plan and recommended plan approval. The commission’s recommendation now goes to East Penn Township.

The Cunfers, who own Neverdone Farm down the road from where the storage facility would be located, have been proposing using treated sewage sludge, known as biosolids, as a fertilizer on their farm.

The proposal to use biosolids has been a point of contention in the township since the farm announced its plans.

No other details about the farm’s expansion plans are available at this time.

In other matters, plans for a boutique distillery in Kidder Township were reviewed but no recommendations were made.

Holy Ghost Distillery, Blue Card Enterprises LLC proposes a 2,860-square-foot building that would be used as a distillery. The building at 900 Route 940, would be constructed on an existing gravel pad that was formerly a greenhouse.

Meixell outlined 25 items that need to be addressed with the applicant and township before the plans meet township ordinance requirements, including deed information, dimensions a the existing two-story building located at the front of the site, DEP approval letters, an approved erosion plan, highway occupancy permit and other items.