SHERBURNE – The proposal to build a $20 million meat processing facility in the Town of Sherburne has been approved by the Sherburne and Chenango County planning boards, giving the project clearance over the first of many regulatory hurdles coming down the pike.

All In Meats Business Development Inc., the company behind the project, has also worked with local planning officials to submit an environmental impact assessment which is mandated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) requires sponsoring governing bodies – the Town of Sherburne in this case – to identify and mitigate the significant environmental impact of activity it’s permitting.

All In Meats Business Development is still fine-tuning purchase negotiations to buy and revamp several industrial buildings and land located along County Road 23 in Sherburne (behind Curtis Lumber) with a goal of opening a meat processing plant expected to generate 100-150 jobs. Company spokesmen say hopes are to close on a purchase within the next three to six months.

“The site plan review was unanimously adopted by our town planning board. This is a project that we think will be a good fit for the area,” said Sherburne Town Supervisor Charles Mastro. “They (All In Meats) have some big ideas in their business plan, and they still have a huge uphill battle dealing with agencies like the EPA and the DEC.”