Sioux Falls Development Foundation joins calls to oppose slaughterhouse ban

Representatives of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation have joined the group of organizations voicing their opposition to a Nov. 8 ballot question that would ban the construction and operation of new slaughterhouses within city limits, saying the move would send a "negative message" to other businesses.

In a statement sent to the Argus Leader, the foundation said they opposed the change and encouraged a "no" vote on the item, citing the 2014 vote to approve the city's current zoning regulations, as well as the passage of the 2017 rezoning of the land where Wholestone Farms now hopes to build its $500 million pork processing plant.

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That project has led to pushback from Smart Growth Sioux Falls, a ballot question committee funded by local businesses including POET and JDS Industries, ranging from the petition that led to the ballot question to a lawsuit filed against Wholestone, Mayor Paul TenHaken and the Sioux Falls City Council.

"The mission of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation is to attract new business to the Sioux Falls region," the statement reads. "We are concerned that the precedent set by passing this ordinance would send a negative message about Sioux Falls and the state of South Dakota to future business prospects."

In a statement, Smart Growth Sioux Falls Treasurer Robert Peterson said the only endorsement that matters at this point is from the people of Sioux Falls.

"They will decide whether or not to allow new slaughterhouses within city limits with their vote," Peterson stated. "When it comes to attracting future business to Sioux Falls, the last place quality companies will want to invest is in an industrial disaster zone with foul odors, contaminated water, and hundreds of semi-trucks with live animals jamming the roads.”

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The foundation's concerns echo those voiced by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, as well as Gov. Kristi Noem, who have criticized the opposition to Wholestone's plant over the last few months.

The Chamber said the ordinance "changes the rules in the middle of the game for a business that has followed all regulations set forth to date," and called it "bad for the economic future of our city," while Noem said the ballot measure passing "puts every single project we do in South Dakota in jeopardy in the future."

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Wholestone is planning to open what board chairman Luke Minion has called a "custom slaughterhouse" in late October, before the vote takes place, and has noted the ordinance allows for the expansion of existing slaughterhouses.

It's this project that has been the focus of the lawsuit filed by Smart Growth Sioux Falls, claiming the move is an attempt to ignore the will of the voters.

Wholestone's response has been that it is following the laws as they currently exist, calling the complaint against them "devoid of factual allegations."

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls Development Foundation opposes slaughterhouse ban