A Bartholomew County zoning board has given approval to a farmer to build a confined feeding operation for 2,000 hogs.
Jeff Shoaf wants to build the operation near the town of Hope.
Some nearby residents objected to the proposal over concerns that the facility would lower the water table in the area, cause odors and increase truck travel near their homes.
Kyle Shepherd defended his father-in-law‘s proposal, saying hog farms are part of country living.
"This isn't a metropolitan area," Shepherd said. "It might be residential zoned, but it's not a metropolitan area like Columbus is, Edinburgh is. It's not an incorporated town. It's the country."
Bartholomew County recently formed a committee to examine its ordinances that regulates confined feeding operations after receiving complains from residents about proposed farms.