LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A circuit court judge ruled a JBS USA pork plant should have been allowed to make improvements to the facility, according to local news reports. JBS USA is a unit of Sao Paulo, Brazil-based JBS S.A.

In April 2014, the Butchertown Neighborhood Association filed an appeal in Jefferson County Circuit Court seeking to overturn a decision by the Louisville Metro Board of Zoning Adjustment allowing JBS to expand a building that houses stunning and bleeding operations and enclose an outdoor loading area.

Representatives of the company said at the time the upgrades should significantly reduce odors. Before approving the expansion, local officials fined the facility $98,750 for odor and other violations.

The board's approval came with stipulations including a cap on the number of pigs to be slaughtered and regular visits by city code inspectors.