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Wiest®n residents raise stink over odor By Audrey Cooper' Record Staff Writer Something smells funky in' Weston Ranch. And some residents of the growing south Stockton subdivi- sion say"funky"is a vast under. tatement. Homeowners say the stench hitting their neighborhood is so bad they can't open their win- dows. They dare not invite.'' friends to outdoor barbecues; and early-morning commuters have learned to start their cars before opening their garage doors. "It smells like someone churned up a cemetery and opened all the coffins.It's so bad it makes you want to vomit. It's impossible to truly explain,"said Monica.Dominici,who has lived in the area for about three years. Smart-growth supporters and farm advocates say the prob- lems, in Weston Ranch are Wb'nevitable in areas where subur- an developments abut neces- sarily stinky farms. The source of the Weston Ranch stink is a nearby stock- yard, where the Ted Witt family has cared for livestock since 1898. The fourth-generation farmer said he battled for years to get Stockton city officials and the Weston Ranch developers to better disclose the odors wafting from his ranch. That didn't happen, laments PEDESTRIAN FIX: A wo Witt and many nearby home HardscrabbPe Street in Ar owners. "I signed the papers for th house,but it didn't say anything about this smell," homeowner Janet Egbujor said. Egbujor said she bought in Weston Ranch for the beautiful open space,the homey feeling. "Now, everyone's sick of it. Our neighbors are talking about selling or renting their homes. It's unbelievable,"Egbujor said. According to a spokeswoman at KB Homes, home buyers signed a list ofdisclosure state- ments that mentioned dust from farming operations, fertilizer and pesticide spraying, and the IlWact that the stockyard existed within a mile from the homes. o Those disclosures are required by the city,according to planners. Other nearby developers said they have similar disclosure statements. But the disclosure papers don't mention the pervasive stench of fermenting tomatoes, potatoes and other vegetables that are eventually fed to Witt's cattle.Use of those vegetables is gh, a long-held family practice that t� has allowed the stockyard busi ness to succeed. "Less expensive feed allows the an edge,"Witt said. The smell will likely subside n a few weeks once the ferment- ig feed mix is covered with a plastic tarp. Jan Sudomier, an inspector for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, said she understands why residents are concerned. Sudomier inves- tigated the odor complaints for the air district. "It was nasty,no doubt. I sus- pected there were dead animals, but that isn't the case. Unfortu- nately,there's nothing we can do "she said. to help, s_ - MR � Please see ODOR,132 i