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DESERET MORNING NEWS (Utah) 27 October 06 Snake issue slithers away - Breeder drops Mapleton bid, now looking at Spanish Fork (Jeremy Twitchell)
Mapleton: A proposed snake-breeding business that caused venomous public outrage in Mapleton is now just a memory — and its owner is looking for more appropriate surroundings in a neighboring town.
On Thursday, the day Mapleton Planning Commission was originally scheduled to make a decision on Dan Sutherland's application for a conditional-use permit to run the business from a new home in Mapleton, city administrator Robert Bradshaw instead confirmed that Sutherland had withdrawn his application.
Sutherland has applied for a conditional-use permit in Spanish Fork, hoping to move his business to an industrial park on the city's outskirts.
The Spanish Fork Planning Commission is expected to consider the application at its meeting Wednesday.
"My role in this was to try and mitigate the circumstances and to help (the Sutherlands) find a suitable location that was near to the place they had chosen to settle," Bradshaw said.
When Sutherland, who declined Thursday to comment, moved his family to Mapleton from California earlier this year, he said he'd been led to believe he had all the necessary permits to set up his Internet-based ball python breeding business in two steel barns near his new home.
However, residents became upset when they learned of the nature of his business, and a public outcry soon followed.
City leaders, gaining a more clear understanding of the operation, informed Sutherland that he would need a conditional-use permit before setting up shop. At a Planning Commission meeting last month to consider Sutherland's application, hundreds of residents turned out to hear the proceedings, some of whom voiced their objections.
Many of those objections focused on the business's location — residents objected to the idea of a commercial business in their neighborhood and raised safety concerns over having the snakes so close to homes.
Most of the concerns, however, focused on the impact the operation would have on property values in the area. Commission members placed conditions on Sutherland's application to limit concerns regarding traffic and odor, then placed a limit of 180 snakes on the property.
But when they were unable to satisfactorily address property value concerns, members voted to continue the matter in order to gather further information.
Even though the issue is now dead, Bradshaw said the city will be working to avoid a repeat situation by making certain aspects of its code "a lot more stringent."
"We will be reviewing city ordinances and will be putting forth some proposals for strengthening them," he said.
Breeder drops Mapleton bid, now looking at Spanish Fork

DESERET MORNING NEWS (Utah) 02 November 06 Snake firm finds a home - Spanish Fork OKs breeders' permit with conditions (Jeremy Twitchell)
Spanish Fork: The long, difficult journey of a family attempting to move its snake-breeding business to Utah ended in success Wednesday night, when the Planning Commission voted 4-1 to grant the business a conditional use permit.
When Dan and Colette Sutherland attempted to move their online ball python breeding business to Mapleton earlier this year, they were stymied by a vocal protest from Mapleton residents.
In Spanish Fork, the Sutherlands found a much more welcoming community.
When questioned by commission members Wednesday, Dan Sutherland attempted to keep the meeting light.
"We don't have the big snakes, like what you see in the movie, or on airplanes like they've made fun of lately," he said.
Spanish Fork's Developmental Review Committee had recommended that the permit be approved on six conditions: that no venomous snake be kept on the property, no snake that requires a state or federal handling permit be kept, the facility maintain industry-approved standards, any rodents on site be kept in cages, a security system be installed and the property be well-maintained so as not to be a nuisance to surrounding owners.
Planning commission members raised concerns over some of the conditions, particularly the last one, saying they were overly vague and would be difficult to enforce. The commission altered that provision slightly to give city zoning officers the power to determine what would be a nuisance.
The commission also voted to add a seventh condition — that the Sutherlands draw up an emergency plan for use in a disaster.
Commission members also asked questions to determine the Sutherlands' experience and qualifications to run such a business.
"I think we have the right to know the people who are behind this permit," asked commission member Sharon Miya, who cast the dissenting vote.
Colette Sutherland said the snakes posed no danger.
"The only problem is perception," she said. "The animals themselves are not a problem. I have four children, they've been in there, they've worked with them, and I still have four children. I wouldn't keep anything that posed a danger to my family."
Other questions focused on cleanliness and security, which Sutherland said were as important to him from a business standpoint as they would be for residents.
"We're worried about stuff getting into our collection," he said. "We keep everything very clean, very disease-free. We don't want anything in there that doesn't belong. Our snakes are very expensive, and we can't afford to have anything in there that doesn't belong."
Lindon resident Jeremy Stone, another local snake breeder, spoke in the Sutherlands' favor during the public comment period. Three residents also spoke, their comments ranging from strong objection to cautious approval.
Resident Dave Olson was the most vocal, saying that no matter how careful the Sutherlands are, accidents would happen.
"I'm a little concerned that we're considering letting this into our community," Olson said. "I don't want snakes here."
Commission chairman Paul Bradford, however, said he believed the Sutherlands would run a tight operation.
"With the type of value we're talking about with these snakes, I think they'll be mighty careful to see that they're taken care of," Bradford said.
Sutherland encountered similar objections in Mapleton, where he initially tried to set up his business. Residents there raised sharp objections to the Sutherlands' operation after it became public knowledge in August.
After drawn-out efforts to secure the necessary conditional use permit, Sutherland withdrew his application last week and applied in Spanish Fork.
Snake firm finds a home