Neighbors in Butchertown are pretty determined to fight plans by the Swift Pork Company to get zoning approval from BOZA for some facilities that are already built.

There’s a BOZA hearing Monday morning in which Swift will find out if it really is better to ask forgiveness than permission when it comes to zoning issues.

The Butchertown Neighborhood Association has submitted a 16-page prehearing statement that argues against everything Swift wants. It says an expansion of the facility is “not appropriate given the dramatic changes in the neighborhood”; that the expansion in inconsistent with a neighborhood plan adopted just 18 months ago; and that Swift should be penalized for its “bad faith and unlawful conduct” in the case.

The neighbors’ document concludes that BOZA must decide whether it will forgive Swift for violating the terms of its current conditional use permit, and whether it will reward Swift for its actions by approving further expansion.

BOZA, we think, is feeling some heat after a string of embarrassing decisions have been played out in the media. And though it seems to exist to please developers, expect the board to take a stand on this one and reject the Swift request.

The neighborhood association’s statement is also unflattering to city codes and regulations director Bill Schreck and planning director Charles Cash. It outlines the steps Schreck and Cash have taken to help Swift keep their operation running even though its addition was built without proper permissions.

Here’s a link to the Butchertown document.