Pig farmer rues loss of view

Dan Kulin

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 8:42 a.m.

First, development moved closer and closer to Robert Combs' pig farm, bringing North Las Vegas residents' noses within smelling distance of the operation.

Now, encroaching residential development may crimp Combs' quality of life.

A residential development planned for 69 acres across the street from Combs' R.C. Farms is expected to include two-story homes, which Combs says will obstruct his view of the nearby mountains. So Combs asked the City Council to require that the new homes along El Campo Grande Avenue be single-story homes.

But Combs' efforts to protect the scenic view from his porch fell short Wednesday when the council unanimously denied Combs' appeal of city Planning Commission approval of the 344-home development. The development by Beazer Homes is planned for land northwest of the intersection of El Campo Grande Avenue and Donna Street.

Mayor Michael Montandon asked Combs why he didn't raise this concern earlier in the development-approval process.

Councilwoman Shari Buck said going along with Combs' request could put the project in violation of city design standards because then the new homes would all look similar.

Attorney Robert Gronauer, who represented Beazer before the council Wednesday, said the company will try to build more single-story homes along the road, but couldn't make any further commitments to Combs.

Gronauer said some new homes on the property might be built within the next six months to a year.

A condition of this development, as with other recent developments around R.C. Farms, is that the prospective homebuyers be told about the presence of Combs' farm.

Combs has about 6,000 pigs and 300 cows on his 140-acre farm, which takes leftover food from Strip hotels to feed the animals.