BRIDGEPORT – Multiple Kirkwood Heights residents are opposed to a neighbor’s request for a variance in an ordinance that would allow him to raise livestock on his property that lies within Bridgeport village limits.

In May, David Holmes requested Bridgeport Village Council approve a variance that would allow him to raise pigs, goats and chickens on his property. The village currently has an ordinance which does not allow livestock on properties within the corporation limits. Council instructed Holmes to first speak with Pease Township trustees to discuss the possibility of annexing a portion of his property to the township instead of creating an ordinance variance.

Holmes appeared before council Tuesday to again make the request for a variance to the village’s ordinance.

“I have two requests, the first being for council’s support to approve a variance to the ordinance pertaining to livestock to allow property owners of 10 or more undeveloped acres to raise livestock, not to exceed 20 chickens, seven goats and two ponies and four pigs. … Aside from requesting the variance, short term, to allow our animals to return,” he said.

Holmes said his long-term goal is to deannex the majority of his 12-acre property from the village, leaving 0.95 acres that would remain a part of the village.

“Our long-term goal is to deannex a majority of my property, which will retain 0.95 acres in the village limits to benefit and allow the village to retain the majority of taxation from my property,” he said.

Holmes said he and his family would like to raise livestock on their property for noncommercial purposes only.

“Allowing the animals on our property would really improve our family’s overall well-being and (we’re) trying to take into consideration of the neighbors and do it as respectfully as possible,” he added.

Holmes’ request was met with resistance, as a few of his surrounding neighbors opposed the request while other neighbors spoke in favor of it. Nearly a dozen residents attended the council meeting to voice their concerns or support for his request.

Janet Husted, a resident of Kirkwood Heights and neighbor of Holmes, spoke out against the possible variance.

“I’m kind of representing the neighbors that border the Holmes’ property. … We all have very nice homes and we don’t want a farm in our backyard. Pigs smell terrible,” she said.

Husted went on to read a letter from another neighbor who is also against the ordinance variance. The neighbors agree that farm animals could bring unwanted odors to their neighborhood.

“If he wanted a farm, he should have considered a farming property that’s not in the village,” she said.

Holmes said he unstands all the neighbor’s concerns.

“I’ve tried to keep it as secluded as possible to mitigate any of those things she had mentioned. … I have no intention of coming any closer to neighboring houses than what I’ve already established,” he said.

“Hopefully to comfort any concerns you have, I’m a neighborly person, I’m very approachable.”

Acting Mayor Norma Teasdale said the matter would be taken into consideration and discussed by the ordinance committee. A decision regarding the possible ordinance variance

will be made at a later date.