Council sets hearing in appeal over woman’s pot-bellied pig

Thursday, June 16, 2005 | 9:30 a.m.

A neighborhood battle over a pot-bellied pig has flared up again in North Las Vegas.

A North Las Vegas man wants the City Council to ban his neighbor from keeping a pot-bellied pig in her back yard on Bluff Hollow Street.

The council has set a July 6 public hearing for the appeal of Robert Barber. He's challenging an April decision by the Planning Commission to grant a special use permit for Connie Christofferson to keep her pot-bellied pig named Penelope.

In January, Christofferson, after complaints from Barber, urged the council to adopt an ordinance allowing pot-bellied pigs in residential zones. But by the 3-2 vote, the council required that pig owners obtain a special use permit. The council also required pig owners to submit yearly documentation that shows the pigs aren't too fat or too tall.

The adoption of the ordinance, however, didn't end the neighborhood feud.

Barber argues that Christofferson shouldn't get the special use permit because he said there's a stench from Penelope's urine and feces and it attracts flies. He said the pig is lowering property values in the neighborhood, and he even has signatures from 52 people opposing the permit.

"This is not the 'Green Acres' pink pig," Barber said of the 1960s television show featuring a human-like pig pet named Arnold Ziffel. "I wouldn't have bought here if I knew I was going to be next to a pig."

Christofferson said Penelope hasn't caused any problems and labeled Barber a troublemaker and ignorant of pot-bellied pigs. She said he's frantic and trying to find any way to oppose the permit.

"There is no smell. There's no barking. This is not a farm pig," Christofferson said. "He said there's an odor but that's from the pig farm down the road. I feel like I am being harassed. The only way you know if there is a pig here is if you peek over the fence."

Under conditions of the permit, Christofferson is required to keep the pig 10 feet from the property line. The pig is limited to 22 inches tall and must weigh less than 120 pounds.

An animal hospital certified the weight at 118 pounds and height at 19 inches, Christofferson said.

The subdivision is part of the Eldorado Neighborhood Second Homeowners Association, but the divided association hasn't taken a position and left the decision over the permit up to the city.

Barber said allowing the animal opens the door to people having pygmy goats, ponies and other animals in neighborhoods where they don't belong.