"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.

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E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com