A controversial proposal for a feedlot near Outlook, Sask., has won approval from the local rural municipality — a move that took some opponents by surprise.

An Alberta farmer, Stuart Thiessen, wants to feed up to 36,000 head of cattle on a lot in the RM of Rudy.

The RM council was set to vote on the proposal last month, but plans were scuttled when a petition opposing the deal came forward.

The RM was facing a possible referendum, but council decided land use decisions are up to the municipal council and went ahead with the approval late last week.

Project opponent Sue Peterson said some people "were kept totally in the dark" before that vote was held.

She's asking lawyers to go over everything, including the way council's vote was conducted.

Meanwhile, the man who wants to build the feedlot isn't quite ready to accept the RM's conditions, which include certain requirements for road construction.

Thiessen said he wants to find out how much it will cost him first.

Outlook is about 94 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon.