Sutherlands permit meeting last night

I attended the Mapleton City Council meeting last night, as they decided if they would grant the Sutherlands a conditional use permit. This permit would allow them to raise and sell snakes and rodents on thier property.

Well, the meeting didn't go too well. A final decision whether to grant the conditional use permit has not been made yet. The city council decided to postpone it until they could determine the effects on property value in the surrounding area. The big hit came when they decided that according to the city code (which is unclear at best with reptiles and rodents), the Sutherlands are allowed 212 snakes and/or rodents on thier property, not including unweaned rodents or snakes under 6 months old. This is because they are allowed 5.9 animal units/acre, and the city council decided that reptiles and rodents fall into the "small animals such as rabbits" category. The code says that 36 "small animals" is equal to one animal unit, hence the number 212. Even if they are granted thier permit, this decision effectively shuts down thier operation. Dan and Colette were very professional during the 4 hour process (especially for having to stand up the entire time due to lack of room; I think every single resident of Mapleton was there), but I could tell they were pretty fed-up with the reasoning behind the decisions toward the end of the meeting. Most of the citizens were relatively well behaved, but there were a few that had outbursts more than once. I am still hoping they can work things out with the city in a way that they can run thier business in Mapleton, but it is not looking promising. I'm not sure what they plan on doing from here, but please keep your thoughts and prayers with them and thier family.

-Evan

Thats too bad, i hope everything works out for the better.

wildlifewarrior

You know this is pretty sad that others can tell you what you can have on your property.Yet another example of this world going to the dumps:mad: .I bet if they were breeding anything else they would be welcomed with open arms:mad: .Its a shock the council is not thinking of the revenue from the property taxes and sales that would be generated, by allowing the Sutherlands to set up there bussiness in that community :eek: .I am sending positive thoughts their way.

Wow...another community making decisions as to what people can and cannot do on their own property. I'll be happy when get moved out to a house on my parents farm...pshh! Try and tell me what I can't do! If you can even find me!

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Originally Posted by TekWarren

Wow...another community making decisions as to what people can and cannot do on their own property. I'll be happy when get moved out to a house on my parents farm...pshh! Try and tell me what I can't do! If you can even find me!

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You've got the right idea.. this whole thing is unbelievable. I only hope that, those who are so adament about raising a stink regarding this, someday they get to see what it's like to have their dreams shot down.
I bought forom the Sutherlands, and I wholeheartedly support them for their good business-dealings, and send them my best thoughts and positive energies.

They made the decision and it is not a favorable one for Sutherlands.
They will be allowed 212 snakes.
They currently have 1100 breeders.


DAILY HERALD (Provo, Utah) 22 September 06 Mapleton council limits snake farm size (Natalie Evans)
It's time to hibernate, and some of Dan Sutherland's pythons will be allowed to come to Mapleton to do it, though probably not enough to make his business work.
The Planning commission decided Thursday that 212 small animals are allowed. The Sutherlands, moving to the city from California to establish a snake farm, can decide on the combination of animals they bring. Dan Sutherland said the number decided on by the commission isn't enough to run a successful business.
The decision was made in a council room so full that lucky residents who found seats first were asked to give them up for senior citizens.
Resident and local real estate agent Grace Huffaker expressed the concern of several residents.
"I say absolutely everybody's property within a half mile radius and those next door will be drastically affected by this snake farm," she said.
Dan Sutherland approached city officials for the third time Thursday about his proposed business. He brought a Provo exotic animal veterinarian, Yoeny Calas-Dobson, and lawyer Randy Spencer of Spencer Fillmore to speak about the health and ordinance issues, respectively.
The debate stemmed from animal limitations. Snakes as wild animals are allowed as one per animal unit. Small animals, such as rabbits are allowed as 36 per unit. Sutherland said, however, that the pythons are exotic animals and wanted a new definition.
Dogs, koala bears, elk and bunnies were all used as examples to set the definition of how many animals are allowed for the property. Spencer asked that the attorney use a USDA animal unit definition of being a cow and her calf, or 1,000 pounds. He said that waste produced by the snake amounts to one pile of cow manure each week.
"I believe that each animal has to be evaluated on their impact on the environment," Spencer said. "A snake does not have the same impact as a bunny."
The commission decided to use the same number as is allowed for rabbits.
The commission did not address that the Sutherlands did not review their business with neighbors, as is a requirement for both a business license and a home business.
"I've heard some people say that they were not upfront," Mapleton Mayor Jim Brady in a meeting beforehand. "From their e-mail contact with the city it appears they were upfront, at least with the city planner."
Brady said that e-mails and applications between the city and now-resigned city planner Matt Evans started in January.
The baby snakes and mice are not included in the number until the snakes are six months old and the mice are 30 days old.
The Sutherlands' business in California has 1,100 snakes to breed, which have up to 2,000 babies each year. Two barns, one for rodents and one for snakes are built almost to completion in Mapleton.
Property values, security, traffic, health concerns and smell were all worries from residents.
Sutherland said that no odor comes from the snakes and that charcoal filters will be installed to combat any odor.
In regards to property values, the commission decided to continue the item and review residents concerns.

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/194067/

That is just a bunch of bull :mad: .

Thats just plain old crap. I feel for them, what an unexpected turn of events.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_4385316

The thing is, you have to look at it from the other side as well. 99% of the general public either hates or fears snakes. How do you sell your $300,000 house to a family who falls into that 99%, when you have a snake and rat farm next door to you or in the neighborhood? Like it or not, a % of families will not like this and some will move. Property values may or may not take a hit depending on the logistics and people living in that city.

I know all of us here would praise the lord for it, we could just walk over and it would be like a kids in a candy store. But, to the other 99% of the public, this may as well have been a toxic waste dump site contaminating their neighborhood.

i think the whole thing is bullcrap

did they research before moving to mapleton? were they under the impression that there would not be any problems with it?

i am shure they have done the research prior to purchasing the property, but the thing is with reptiles and local laws it is generally a very shady area and there is a lot of room for personal perception when making choices on them. i feel real bad for them and i hope they continue their fight and get the call to go ahead with it. but most people fear snakes. and that will be the majority rule in this issue and will end up costing them a lot of money to win.

I think it's an outrage that these poor people have to go through this. This is I'm sure their living considering the size of their collection. How unfortunate that more people aren't more educated about snakes, they really are great pets to have. And if you're a breeder then you chance to make alot of money just on a few beautiful Morphs. My thought go out to this family, KEEP FIGHTING, it's your right to do what you want with your own property.


jwjjj

I chatted with Colette a bit at the show. Their kids are already in school there and been living there a while, as is Dan. Colette is back in California with the snakes and the rats and the mice with their Calif. house almost done in escrow...it's getting down to the wire. =P

I wanted to reach across the table and give her a hug...but I didn't want to seem that forward. =P

I'm sure there are things you would not like your neighbors doing in the privacy of their own home. How about if they converted their home to a night club that played loud Christian Rock at 3:00AM every day...LOL.

These types of things should've been researched again and again by the Sutherlands before investing $0.01 in relocating. This is not like hiding 2-3 snakes in your spare bedroom. This is a full blown business, on top of that a snake and rat breeding business that is looked down on by 99% of the public.

As a neighbor, I'd be way more concerned about the rodent part of their operation compared to the snake division.

Either way, I still feel like something's missing in this whole thing. Either the Sutherlands didn't do their homework, or someone pulled the rug out from underneath them as soon as neighbors got wind of what was going on.

Speaking of wind...guys I love 'dem snakes...but there's no way I'd ever want to live down-wind from a full blown rat factory...sorry...

I just can't imagine making this type of move and not doing 100% of your homework and covering everything with the city, before spending $0.01.

I would've even had a lawyer involved to review all the paperwork needed before and after filing and make sure all the T's were crossed with the city, before spending $0.01 on real estate. With these situations you must be 100% honest and upfront with your intentions and business details, building plans, structure, etc, etc.

A little time spent preparing and a few hundred spent upfront could've saved them a lot of headaches. Whether they got the approval or rejection, they would've gotten it before making the move and before spending $600,000.

Can you imagine if they get rejected? What then?

If they get rejected, they could always light the unfinished buildings on fire and let their contractor's builders risk coverage take care of it. That worked for VCU's most recent housing project that wasn't built to code!