Commission asked to clarify zoning and nuisance rules after neighbor reports pigs near protected creek

Planning staff raised a complaint received by the city about swine penned near a local creek that the complainant says is fouling the water and producing odors for neighbors.

Staff noted that zoning code section 3.2 lists allowable animals per lot size but that the citys nuisance code (cited as section 6.16.080 in the meeting) and state water protections also apply and can restrict keeping animals that harm water quality or neighbor health. “They have to write a complaint to the city because that applies to city nuisance code section 6.16.080,” a staff member said, adding that the creek in question is a protected water and thus the situation may also involve state water regulations.

Staff recommended clarifying the zoning animal table to cross‑reference the nuisance code so that permitted animals are explicitly conditional on compliance with nuisance and water‑protection rules. “We can put in zoning that anything in the nuisance code will just cover anything in section 5 that is nuisance code,” a staff member said.

Commissioners discussed next steps for the complainant: staff said the neighbor should file a written nuisance complaint so city enforcement staff can investigate and apply city or state water protections as appropriate. Staff said they had left a message for the city enforcement contact (John) to begin follow‑up.

Ending: Staff will review zoning section 3.2 animal allowances and propose cross‑references to the nuisance code and state water protection language; enforcement action was recommended for the specific complaint via a written nuisance complaint.