Paul Villanueva”s letter to the editor (“Rights being taken away,” Readers” Views, Aug. 18) omitted many of the facts required to make an informed analysis of the deliberate use of pigs to create a nuisance toward their neighbors, the Shaul family.
The records will show that the Villanuevas acquired their 40 acres in February 2003, that the Shauls have owned the adjoining property since 1964 and subdivided the involved adjacent property in 1989 with the intention of building homes on the lots. The Villanueva and Shaul properties have been zoned suburban reserve (one-acre minimum) for an extended period of time as evidenced by the eight parcels abutting the Villanuevas that are five acres or smaller.
In early 2003, during the preparation of the last building site, I was approached by Ryan Villanueva who asked if I was planning to build a home. I responded yes and he said that he was planning to build two homes next to us for himself and his parents.
Small talk led to Ryan”s request for a right of way across the homesite I was preparing. Knowing that the Villanueva property already had access to Riggs Road and that the property had the potential of servicing 40 homes as well as providing through traffic between McMahon Road and Riggs Road, I told him no. He then accused me of preventing him from building the homes that would allow him to pay for the 40 acre “ranch” that he and his parents had just purchased.
He then abruptly told me that he was going to put 20 pigs 20 feet from my property line which would be 40 feet from the home I was building.
So, the use of his property had gone from family residences to spec homes to a pig harassment facility in about five minutes.
A week later, “razorback” pigs and “improvised” pens appeared. For the next two years, this “established pig farm” grew into the most ungodly sight imaginable (pictures available). Living conditions for the pigs were unsuitable as county Animal Care & Control”s notice of violations and photos will show (does this sound like a pig farmer who knows how to properly care for his animals?). Hungry squealing pigs rooting empty metal troughs, loud parties and the reckless use of firearms at all hours of the night and day (as sheriff”s records will show) were more than the Shaul family could endure.
A lawsuit was initiated and is still pending execution. The Villanuevas, after the threat of a lawsuit, only recently moved the pig pens a short distance away, but the stench remains.
No, government isn”t responsible for taking our rights away … it is the few people who refuse to abide by the commonsense rules of decency who makes it necessary to initiate laws and regulations to control the impact of their bad behavior on society.
Gerald Shaul Sr.
(Father Public Works
Director G.R. Shaul)
Lakeport
