PLYMOUTH — What could be more of a dreaded neighbor than a tattoo parlor?
How about a home that contains 21 snakes and more than 30 rats?
At least that’s how the Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals voted last week.
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
A request to allow a tattoo parlor in downtown Plymouth came to a tie vote, which means Patrick Timm can reapply for a variance.
Business neighbors had issues with clientele loitering at that location when it was known as Mad House Tattoos.
Timm, who once worked at Mad House, wants to have a similar business there but said he would not tolerate loitering and would spruce the place up.
Board members Mark Gidley and Alan Selge were against the idea. James Sherwood and Don Ecker Jr. were for it. Juliet Morgan abstained.
But the request to keep snakes and rats in a home on North Michigan Avenue was definitely voted down, 4-1-0. The one being an abstention.
Holly and Brett Darrah have 20 bald pythons and one articulated python. They also raise rats to feed the snakes.
A year ago, when the Darrahs built their home, they created a room in the basement.
There the snakes and rats are kept in breeder tote-rack cages bedded with shredded paper for the snakes and pine shavings for the rats.
The room is heated and has an air purifier. The waste from the snakes is dumped in the garbage and the pine shavings from the rats are placed in a compost pile near a woods.
The Darrahs’ two sons help handle the snakes, and entry to the room is supervised.
In Marshall County, residents must apply for a kennel permit if they have over five pets, according to rural residential district rules.
That is what the Darrahs were requesting after learning of the ordinance from the building commissioner, who was called out on a complaint by a neighbor.
Several neighbors had questions about safety and complained of the feces.
“I’ve lived there for 16 years and don’t want more than five snakes and definitely don’t want rats,” said neighbor Tom Kollars.
“They have no respect for anyone else’s property and I smell an odor from the (compost) area.”
Jamie Linsner, one of the Darrah sons, responded to Kollars’ claim.
“The only thing is the smell of the compost pile, and most compost piles are a cow manure mix and lawn clippings,” he said.
“We don’t try to harm our neighbors.”
Neighbor Matt Bertasso also worried about the waste.
“What happens to it?” he asked. “Does it go in the ground and in our well water?”
Neighbor Tom Traversa said rat feces circulating in the air of the home is dangerous to occupants.
Matt Johnson, who lives on 6C Road, the first road to the south, did not think snakes or rats were a generally accepted pet and he didn’t feel comfortable with his five children living next to them.
“And how do you rate the ability to sell a home?” Johnson asked.
Holly Darrah said neighbors shouldn’t be able to decide which pets are acceptable.
Her son has a cat. “I don’t like it, but it doesn’t do anything to my property value,” she said.
City building commissioner Keith Hammonds recommended granting the special-use kennel permit since it would require periodic inspections and compliance with health department guidelines for disposal of waste.
In the end, the neighbors won.
The family must downsize to five snakes and were given time to relocate the rest.
It might be a while.
Brett Darrah said he has already traveled to two snake shows trying to sell, but was unsuccessful.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20090907/NEWS04/909089975
