CANTON -- A website and petition opposing plans to establish a slaughterhouse in the Canton area has been launched by a group of concerned citizens.

“A growing group of concerned citizens is asking that their elected officials respond to an open letter in regards to the slaughterhouse being proposed in Canton and/or Potsdam,” an email to NorthCountryNow.com said.

The website and petition were created by Leila Walker, Renee McGarry, Rajiv Narula, Geetika Narula, Yasmeen Zaidi and Ali Zaidie, according to an email from CantonDeservesBetter.org.

Sparx, the commercial arm of Ogdensburg-based United Helpers, wants to build a slaughterhouse operation on the former Potsdam Hardwoods property off Pine Street, north of Maple Street. A Canton location is also being considered.

The hub would receive deliveries of local food products then handle packaging, distribution, and marketing to wholesalers, retailers and institutions.

It could drastically reduce transportation costs for farmers who aren't close to established regional produce markets such as the one in Syracuse, that include warehouse space, loading docks, and refrigerated units alongside railroad tracks and good roads.

However the plan appears to have opposition in the Canton area. Where a website and petition have been launched to oppose the plan. While no name is attached to the email or website, the petition does have 25 supporters.

The email includes links to the following two websites.

• http://cantondeservesbetter.org/

• https://www.change.org/p/mayor-dalton-citizens-against-a-slaughterhouse-in-canton

Also included in the email is the following unsigned letter issued to Canton’s mayor and trustees:

“Dear Mayor Dalton and Canton Village Trustees:

As citizens of Canton, we are concerned that the recent proposal to build a slaughterhouse in our village is being moved forward in haste and without adequate investigation into long-term repercussions. Without such investigation, our village cannot make an informed and responsible decision. We are concerned that the village seems willing to accept biased assertions from a company that would benefit from casting the slaughterhouse in the best possible light, without seeking independent evaluations of the proposal from credentialed third parties.

Canton deserves better. And as citizens of Canton, we respectfully ask that you, our elected officials, address our unanswered questions about the proposed slaughterhouse:

What are the environmental impacts of a slaughterhouse? Even small-scale slaughterhouses can have disastrous effects on our waterways and air quality, polluting our groundwater and exacerbating asthma. We request an environmental impact statement from an impartial third party. Canton deserves to know how a slaughterhouse would affect our environment.

What are the economic impacts of a slaughterhouse? The latest numbers provided to us indicate that a slaughterhouse would employ ten people at its opening. But these estimates do not consider jobs or potential jobs that could be lost as other employers look for friendlier homes, or as tourists seek out healthier destinations. We request an economic impact statement from an impartial third party. Canton deserves to know how a slaughterhouse would affect our economy.

What will be the labor conditions at the slaughterhouse? Slaughterhouses are notoriously dangerous and difficult places to work. We are concerned that this project will expose the most vulnerable members of our community to physical and psychological harm. Canton deserves job opportunities that protect our community.

How will a slaughterhouse affect property values? Taxable property owners in our village are mostly employed by the two Universities (St. Lawrence and SUNY Canton) and by health care providers. There is a consistent flux of people moving in and out of Canton. It is difficult to presume that someone would like to own a home in the vicinity of a slaughterhouse. A quick search on the Internet reveals several studies and arguments that slaughterhouses hurt property values. We are concerned that building a slaughterhouse could drive down property values so drastically that it could affect the village's property-tax collections. We request an economic impact statement from an impartial third party. Our residents deserve to know the impacts of a slaughterhouse on property values.

How will a slaughterhouse affect recruitment at our schools? Our village supports two institutions of higher education, and our economy and community are intimately tied to the success of these institutions. We request an independent survey to determine the potential impact a slaughterhouse would have on our schools’ ability to recruit the best and brightest students, many of whom have reservations about spending four years next to a slaughterhouse. Canton deserves to continue its tradition as a community of learners.

What is our larger plan for economic growth as a region? Our region has lost several employers recently, and the impulse to welcome any potential employer to the region is understandable. However, a scattershot approach to job creation is not the same as a plan for economic development. We request to see a long-term plan for economic development in the region so that we can make informed decisions about which opportunities support that plan and which would detract from it. Canton deserves to know where we are headed next.

What kind of town do we want to be? Canton is a beautiful town with a rich history, robust cultural and intellectual institutions, and a stunning landscape. We have received statewide recognition for our environmental initiatives. We value our heritage as we look toward a future that nourishes our environmental, intellectual, and cultural wellbeing. A slaughterhouse that kills hundreds of animals a week is incompatible with our identity as a community. Canton deserves a long-term plan that supports and enhances our community’s identity.

We ask you: Is Canton so desperate that we must accept the first proposal that comes our way, regardless of the consequences? Or are we bold enough to cultivate a long-term vision that will support our environment, our economy, and our values?

We invite you to sign our petition and join us for a better future, because Canton deserves better. To learn more, visit cantondeservesbetter.org.”