A slithering in Mapleton

MAPLETON — Quick: name something Mapleton city and Samuel L. Jackson have in common.

Normally, that would be a silly request, what with one being a movie star famous for his fantastically foul mouth and the other a quiet town in central Utah.

But as of today — Jackson's "Snakes on a Plane" opens in theaters — they stand united in the fight against all things slithery.

Dan and Colette Sutherland were well into the process this week of moving their family and their online snake breeding business to Mapleton when residents and city officials caught wind of their intentions.

And unlike the ball pythons the Sutherlands breed and sell, the response has fangs.

More than 40 residents attended a City Council meeting on Wednesday to protest the incoming business.

"(Residents) were making strong representations to the City Council members, expressing dismay and concern over the commercial activity that will be taking place on this property, which is surrounded by residential areas," Mapleton City Administrator Robert Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw said the city's concern lies with the size of the Sutherlands' business. When the Sutherlands applied for a building permit to build two barns, one to house the pythons and the other to house the mice the Sutherlands breed to feed them, Bradshaw said the couple indicated they were hobby breeders, not business owners.

Attempts to reach the Sutherlands on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Bradshaw said the nature of the business violates the home-occupancy license the city granted them, which stipulates that home businesses must be housed entirely within the home and must not take up more than 500 square feet.

The problem is not the snakes, Bradshaw said, but the violation of city ordinances.

"Our main concern is the volume," he said. "If it were going to be an individual with a pet snake, it would be a completely different issue."

City attorneys are studying the issue, and Bradshaw said the city may revoke the home-occupancy license to put a stop to the business. He said the city is moving swiftly, attempting to resolve the issue before the Sutherlands make any more financial commitments to the area.

The Sutherlands and city officials will host a public meeting about the issue Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers, 125 W. 400 North.

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E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com