Deseret Morning News, Saturday,
September 23, 2006
Would snake farm devalue property?
By
Jeremy Twitchell
Deseret Morning
News
MAPLETON — Though some issues surrounding an application for
a snake farm here have been resolved, the local planning
commission could not answer questions about possible effects on
property values — questions raised by highly resistant
residents.
After three and a half hours of tense public commentary
and deliberation, the Mapleton City Planning Commission on
Thursday voted 5-2 to continue consideration of Dan Sutherland's
application to set up his snake-breeding business in town.
Sutherland had applied for a conditional-use permit to
breed ball python snakes and the rodents to feed them in two
barns on his property in an agricultural area. The commission
agreed that such a use would be permissible under certain
conditions, but it continued the matter after members were
unable to come up with a condition that would address resident
concerns over how the business could affect their property
values.
The commission will meet with a representative from the
Utah Property Rights Ombudsman's Office to evaluate the
potential impact the Sutherland operation could have on the
value of surrounding properties and receive suggestions on how
to ameliorate any such effects. Commission members did not
specify when such a meeting would occur or when Sutherland's
application would be revisited. The occasionally bitter meeting
Thursday night capped weeks of angst and heated debate that have
created a rift in the rural town. More than 200 residents
crammed into the City Council chambers and overflowed out into
the hallway.
When he addressed the commission, Sutherland expressed
regret for the current state of affairs in the community.
"I'm a bit overwhelmed by everybody that is here, and I'm
sorry it's come to this," he said. "It was never our intention
to have anything like this come about. We tried to do everything
the way we were supposed to, and we wanted our family and our
children to be welcomed into this community and be part of it."
Sutherland's attorney and a veterinarian who spoke on
Sutherland's behalf attempted to calm many of the concerns
raised by residents regarding questions of odor and safety.
Dr. Yoeny Calas-Dobson, who operates Riverwoods Pet
Hospital in Provo, said the odor of the snakes would be
minimal, if at all detectable, and that they would not pose a
threat even if they escaped.
"These guys have probably lost a lot of the instinct to
survive in the wild," she said.
Randy Spencer, Sutherland's attorney, questioned if those
opposed fully understood the realities of snakes.
"The people of Mapleton are good people, educated people,
but I doubt that there are many of them that have any experience
with the breeding and raising of snakes," he said.
Nine residents spoke during the public comment period, all
expressing sharp objections to the proposal. Property values
were of particular concern.
"For many of us here, our homes are our largest
investments, and approval of a snake farm, which many of us do
not want here, would certainly have a detrimental effect,"
resident Marilyn Raymer said.
Another resident, Ron Jensen, said his family was
attempting to sell a large plot of land a short distance from
the Sutherland property, and the buyers withdrew their $1
million offer when they learned of the proposed snake farm.
Others worried about odors and health concerns, but the
message was clear: Snakes are not welcome in Mapleton.
"Mapleton is a beautiful city, and a snake farm doesn't
belong here," resident Gwen Warren said.
The question of whether the snake farm was allowed under
city ordinances was a complex issue raising several smaller
questions, which Planning Commission members decided one by one.
At the outset of the hearing, Planning Director Karen
McCandless informed members that they would have to decide if
snake breeding was a conditional use according to the defined
standards, if breeding rodents was a conditional use, if the
breeding of rodents for the purpose of feeding the snakes was
allowed, how many snakes and rodents the Sutherlands could have
if approved, and under what conditions their application could
be approved.
The commission had voted in the affirmative on each of the
questions and had set conditions to address a number of
concerns, including odor, security, animal health and human
health, before encountering an impasse on the property rights
issue.
E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com
© 2006 Deseret News
Publishing Company
