Snake breeders caged?

MAPLETON — When they moved from California in August, Dan and Colette Sutherland thought they had the necessary permits to relocate their online ball python breeding business to a barn by their new home.

After neighbors heard about the Sutherlands' plans, however, many in the community began to fiercely protest the commercial nature of the Sutherlands' operation, as well as its slithering product. City officials agreed to look into whether the snake-breeding operation can, indeed, legally operate within the city.

The fate of the proposed snake farm that has caused a public outcry in Mapleton will be decided at 7 p.m. tonight by the city's Planning Commission. The meeting will be at the Mapleton Community Center Building, 125 W. Community Center Way

Dan Sutherland said he prepared a packet outlining his understanding of the law, which he submitted to the Planning Commission. "We believe the laws state we can have our reptiles under a conditional-use permit," he said.

He said his operation never caused an issue with neighbors in California. The fact that snakes were on the site did not make selling the home more difficult, he said.

"What we do does not cause a problem," he said. "It never caused a problem in our old neighborhood. ... You can come on our property and never know what's going on."

Some Mapleton officials said they were misled by Sutherlands to believe that they were only hobby breeders — not commercial ones. The Sutherlands maintain they were upfront throughout the process and obtained the necessary building and business permits.

Mapleton City Administrator Robert P. Bradshaw said conditional-use permits are tailored to individual situations. "There is a flexible limit, but it is governed by city ordinances," he said.

The dispute, however, may have exposed a hole in city ordinances that would allow the snake-breeding business. City code allows the Planning Commission to issue a conditional-use permit that allows the property owner to have one animal unit per half-acre.

The Sutherlands have a 2.75 acre plot, allowing for five animal units.

The problem, however, is that city code has not defined how many snakes make up an animal unit. For larger animals, such as cows and horses, two animals count as one animal unit. For smaller animals, such as chickens or pigeons, 36 animals count as one animal unit. Also, the Mapleton code allows 36 animals per unit for rabbits and "similar small animals."