Strauss Slaughterhouse Permit Extended By Franklin Common Council

FRANKLIN, WI — The Franklin Common Council voted 3-2 last week to preserve the special use permit for a proposed Strauss Brands slaughterhouse.

The permit's extension comes as legal action from city residents has stalled the slaughterhouse development. Opponents of the slaughterhouse have said the facility would impact property values, community character and health. One formal challenge filed in December of 2020 called into question the validity of the special use permit.

Strauss has maintained a facility in Franklin for about 50 years, but the company said it has outgrown its facility, Patch previously reported. The expansion would bring a new 150,000 square foot facility to W. Loomis Road and Monarch Drive that could process 250-500 cattle per day, proposal documents online show.

The Franklin Common Council initially approved the special permit for the development in November of 2020, city documents show. Legal action filed by a group called Franklin Community Advocates has stalled the construction, though, so the permit was set to lapse. Last week's Common Council vote renewed the permit.

Franklin Community Advocates said one of the key issues with the development is its location and proximity to residential areas, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The group filed evidence and numerous affidavits in a civil suit against Franklin alleging bias from city officials and that the development would interfere with others nearby, but parts of the group's evidence has come under question from city attorneys, according to the report.