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An ammonia leak at the site in September 2009 forced nearby residents to flee their homes.

Since then, a city report said neighbours’ concerns over the plant’s presence have been largely quelled due to better communication with residents, deodorizers and sound attenuation walls.

Sofina’s been a model corporate citizen, said John Holt, President of the Ramsay Community Association.

“It’s been a completely different experience — they’ve been engaged with the community,” said Holt, who recalled the 1990s when things were dramatically different.

“Trucks used to go unwashed down 11th Street S.E. and so many feathers were flying off them, it looked like a snow blizzard.”

Even so, Holt said residents will be happy to see the plant relocate to what he calls a more suitable site, with a much-anticipated residential-commercial development taking its place along with the LRT.

“It’s a win for the community,” he said.

Currently, the Sofina plant in Ramsay employees 500 people and can process 9,000 chickens an hour — production that’s expected to increase at the new location.

While no residential communities nearest the proposed site have lodged complaints, city officials say they’ve received three letters of concern from land owners in the industrial area concerned the plant’s presence isn’t suitable for the area.

But given its state-of-the-industry design with all operations confined indoors amid the most modern ammonia equipment, “a lot of the concerns of the adjacent owners would be addressed,” said Doug Cassidy, the director of the city’s real estate and development services.

The plan is to shut the current facility in 2020 just as the new one is completed, he said.

Holt said that long goodbye shouldn’t be a problem for his community.

“Under the current leadership, two years will be fine,” he said.

If it’s approved by the planning commission, the proposal would go before council in May.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

on Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn