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The traditional view of a feedlot is an outdoor area that is used for the fattening <br />of hvestock before they are sent to market. The animals at the nutrition center <br />are housed in controlled environments, not kept in open pens. The animals are <br />intended to be used for nutrition research not fattened for market. The animals <br />are studied regarding weight gain and growth in relation to the type of feed <br />used. Milk production is analyzed in order to determine the relationship between <br />milk production and type of feed used. Specific breeds of animals are used so <br />that variables can be controlled; many of the animals remain at the center for <br />several breeding cycles, some animals remain for years. <br /> <br />Along with research in animal nutrition, the center conducts ongoing research in <br />the preservation of feed and silage, development of new types of feed and <br />laboratory analysis. <br /> <br />There has been some discussion about the nature of the operations that occur at <br />the nutrition center and whether it is typical of uses found in a light industrial <br />zone. The Cargill Animal Nutrition Center is an agricultural research and <br />product development facility. Within the scope of research and development, it is <br />staffs opinion that the facihty's operation has more characteristics that are <br />agricultural in nature than industrial. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />Based on the above overview, staff is presenting the following definition for <br />animal, nutrition and agricultural research to be included as a conditional use in <br />the Rla and A1 zoning districts. <br /> <br />Animal, Nutrition and Agricultural Research <br /> <br />Buildings, laboratories and other facilities or structures which are used in <br />connection with animal, nutrition or other agricultural research and <br />development, investigation, testing, adaptation or experimentation, but <br />not facihties for the commercial manufacture or sale of products, except <br />those which are used in research operations, with respect to which <br />research activities have been completed or which are part of research and <br />development programs; the facihties also can include animal feeding <br />facilities; barns, storage buildings, confinement areas, or other animal <br />housing units; pasture and grazing areas; cropped or tilled fields; grain <br />and feed processing, storage or manufacturing facilities; nursery areas; <br />and waste management facihties or systems. <br /> <br />It is recommended that the Planning Commission recommend approval of an <br />ordinance creating a definition for Animal, Nutrition and Agricultural Research <br />to be included as a conditional use in the A1 and Rla zoning districts. <br /> <br /> <br />