Two residents of Raven’s Ridge addressed city council Monday to request the city prohibit a neighbouring property from adding hogs to their list of farm animals they’re raising.

Kevin Embacher told council hogs are exceptionally smelly, noisy, destructive, and attract an inordinate number of bugs.

“These environmental conditions spilling onto others’ property and into their homes is unacceptable, and certainly not in alignment with an urban lifestyle,” he said.

Embacher said he understands a neighbouring property owner is planning to bring in two or three hogs.

But he asked council to maintain the approved agricultural permit for two goats and a number of birds, but to disallow the addition of hogs.

“It is my understanding the broader community shares our opinion.” Embacher said.

“The addition of two or three hogs is, however, excessive, and damaging, with lasting and severe consequences to the local aquifer, residents’ welfare, the McIntyre Creek watershed and wildlife.”

He said the property owner in question has recently installed an electric fence, presumably to accommodate a hog pasture, but the fence can present a health hazard, as there are children in the neighbourhood.

The fence is also out of character for the neighbourhood, he said, noting the city bylaw says fences must be consistent with the character of the zoning.

He said the fence is 10 metres from their house and just inches away from their driveway, play area and garden.

The planned hog pasture is situated fewer than 20 metres from their home on a sloping, rocky, very small area of land, Embacher said.

He said the area is too small to support hogs, and would present an inhumane environment for the animals.

Lots in Raven’s Ridge are between 0.6 and 0.8 hectares in size (1.5 to two acres.)

Sarah Johnson told council she was there to present a petition signed by 40 residents of Raven’s Ridge concerned over the hog issue.

Raven’s Ridge, she said, does allow for hobby agriculture, and city officials have told them hogs are permitted in the subdivision.

“Introducing swine on small lots in close proximity to others is not representative of an urban lifestyle,” Johnson said.

Hogs, she told council, produce between between one and four kilograms of manure per day, according to Statistics Canada.

“This waste is more akin to human waste than bovine, and is not managed through a waste treatment system but goes directly into the ground as a nitrate contaminator,” Johnson said.

“Moreover, referencing the Canadian Small Scale Pig Farming Manual from 2021, the planned pasture’s size, grade, ground and quality is inadequate for raising two or three hogs.

“The imposing noise, smell, inappropriate pasture, significant nitrate loading and erosion present a major health and safety concern for our community and the surrounding area,” she told council.

Johnson said hogs are a significant bear attractant.

Wildwise Yukon, she added, states that small livestock such as pigs are highly attractive to wildlife, including bears.

“Pigs would greatly increase the likelihood of dangerous bear interactions with neighbourhood residents, young children, users of the easement trail, Mount Mac trails, the Copperbelt Museum and the neighbourhood bus stop,” she said.

Johnson noted most Raven’s Ridge residents are on private wells, though the property owners in question are on water delivery.

The city has visited the area to get a better context of the situation, she said.