A Central New York community is up in arms about the potential for millions of gallons of liquid manure being stored year-round in their area.

“I understand farmers need proper manure storage. Why in the world would they consider putting this so close to so many residential areas?” said Camillus resident Lynn Connors.

For more than a handful of residents, it smells a bit foul in the town of Camillus when it comes to Hourigan Family Farms’ proposed 4 million gallon manure storage pit.

“There's concerns about the land. There's concerns about the rock,” she said. “This area cannot support sewers. There's a lot of erosion in the backside here.”

The Connors are part of the community that is opposing the proposal of the manure storage pit nestled in the center of multiple residential communities. While there are homeowners and retirees putting up a stink, they say impacts would be felt by scores of renters, including low-income and renters.

“They are going to be in the downwind as the wind blows from any of these sites that contain this,” Lynn added. “I just think it's totally inappropriate that, you know, the farmers are allowed to put something like this so close to so many residential homes.”

The Connors, among others, have a serious concern about chemicals associated with this kind of storage. They've even gone out to talk with the Hourigans and tour one of their other pits.

They live near the proposed sites along Munro Road, but their friend Norm lasda is directly adjacent.

“But this is one of my concerns is that this is a very steep gulch and valley, and immediately below is the railroad track, and then Nine Mile Creek,” he pointed out, walking along the back of his property looking into the Hourigans’ land.

Neither the Connors nor lasda are against farming practices, but they say they have been doing more research on everything from chemical spills, health concerns and quality of life issues in areas where these pits have been put before.

“Right here by this stake,” Lasda pointed out on a spot that is right up against his and a neighbor’s backyard. “So this is 200 feet behind their property line, 225 feet that way, north 170 feet and I read somewhere like 14 to 12 feet deep.”

Even the town board is taking action, having introduced a local law for more collaboration.

“That's gonna … allow us and our experts including our geologist and our engineers, to have some oversight over the project to make sure that it's completed and planned in a way that is protects the health and safety to the extent that we can have a local population,” said Camillus town attorney James Gascon.

The Hourigans have declined to comment or interview at this time. Gascon did note that they have been extremely welcoming, cooperative and open to concerns. The Hourigans are also working on fielding questions about the proposal and specifications directly for the concerned citizens.