Reader comments
Pet project a pet peeve for some

I am so glad to see that Alpine's city council did the right thing and left the ranch alone. If some one doesn't want to live near alpacas, there are other places to buy, but personally, I think my children would be thrilled to live near them.

I think it would be fun and relaxing, actually, to be able to look out my window and watch them in their field.

If there is a concern about an animal smell, then the developer should let potential buyers know in advance so the new home owners won't complain and try to get rid of the ranch in the future.

Jill Bergman's ranch sounds like a good neighbor, and I hope she is able to enjoy her hobby for many years to come.

Hooray! People buy property because it is zoned for specific uses - in this case rural or agriculture among other things. For someone to buy property and then decide they want to force others to rezone to fit their personal whims (or greed) is outrageous! Personal experience:
A 'mature' couple bought the acre next ours and went ballistic when they found out the 10 children where truly ours - not a 'daycare' - and they couldn't find a way to 'shut us down'! laugh sigh - it was a very unpleasant experience.

It is sad we live in a Country community
Now we have those that want Hollywood
For those buying new homes in the country
If you buy a home under the Air Port Run way
You can expect air planes flying over.
Same for Animals
Animal Count from the City Council
It is unlawful to have a limit law on animals, Animals are considered property in the U.S Constitution, The City Council is in violation of the law

If the alpaca ranch is legal, then no one looking to settle or develop the area around it should whine to City Council about changing things--the llamas were there first!

Maybe Carl Pack should relocate his developement, he knew going in what the neighbors were. It seems that another devloper bought the land for the sole purpose knowing he could convince the city council to make them close the animal farm. That's how it works in Utah, by the land as speculative, force others off their land and rezone for his own purposes to make a killing. Then after forcing the closure of the animal farm, move in and secure it too for more developement. Money and power are the moving factors, peoples rights are minimal and overlooked. City master plans and developers are in constatnt battle and if the land of Carl Pack is desiganted agricultrual then perhaps he should put in a farm or raise his own Alpacas. Rezoning land once zoned should be held to that same zoneing law and follow city master plans.

People need to realize that just because they want to "develop" land does not give them the right to try and railroad everyone else out of their property and livelihood. Obviously, if someone were buying into the development, they would know the little critters were there first. Then it becomes their responsibility to decide if they want to live there. I am so tired of people who want to move into a rural area and then complain because it smells like the country. Yes, critters smell, etc. But for those of us who raise them, we have just as much right to that as others do to move in. Milk does NOT come from a grocery store carton in it's original form and other critters contribute to the planet also. Me, I think the alpaca are cute as heck and good luck to the Bergman's. Some of us love all of the country critters:)

Lovely and worthy hobby for the Bergmans. The money hungry developers can take a flying leap. Kudos for the city council for not leaning toward the money mouths, but rather following the law.

The alpacas were there first and legally. This is a no brainer.

Tina, come get some ham!

Can't even believe the council gave Mr. Pack the time of day on this issue. Thank heavens they saw through him and did they right thing and sent him on his way.

Alpacas are beautiful! (and, by the way, they are not llamas)...Congratulations to the Bergmans.

Looking at the photos you can see that this is a very well maintained farm operation, one that I would imagine anyone who wants to live in a rural neighborhood would be pleased to have as a neighbor.

Some rural communities in Utah have went so far as to pass resolutions or ordinances that declare the community to be agricultural based, and that no development shall force a property owner to give up his/her rights to keep farm animals. Perhaps Alpine should consider such.

I live in Alpine and know the Bergman's keep a far better property and looks better than most of the multi-million dollar plus properties around them. A favorite hobby of ours is to go for drives and make comments how stupid and what poor taste most people have in their properties. The majority of yards around here look like weed breeding grounds. You should all see the immaculate green lawns the Alpacas get to play on. They DON'T smell! I've been there. Tell Carl Pack to take a hike.
p.s. My business is land acquisitions and developmemnt.

Way to go Alpine, keep with the citizens & don't let developers or high-society force changes to a great setting!

Take a hike, Carl Pack.

Don't necessarily jump right in and villify Pack right away...it sounds like he's looking into his options and is resigned to accept that he alpacas are there legally. Many, many, many unethical, greedy developers and landowners around the state have done terrible things to our agriculture industry, so hopefully this one will turn out right.

Those that commented above definitely have it right, however, that although he has the right to develop his own property, that does not give him a right to infringe upon the rights of the Bergman ranch.

I looked at a beautiful model home in a nice new subdivision near a school with a winding river nearby, but it was right by a very busy road with a dairy right across the street. Guess what...I didn't buy it, because I didn't want to see/smell/hear the cows all day. How did I know they were there? I looked and sniffed. If more people would do their due diligence before buying property, we'd all get along better.

I'm really happy to read these comments. I feel the same way. Ranch was there first. If your concerned, sell your land and buy to develop somewhere else. It's crazy to see of of these developers who think they can just push agriculture out because it doesn't mesh with their thoughts, even though they moved to the country.

Ohhh, those alpacas are sooo adorable!!!! Score 1 for the animals, 0 for stupid corporate developers!!!!

Alpine needs more farms and fewer developers.

Take a hike Carl Pack, and take Carl Patterson with you.

An alpaca ranch does not produce the same sort of stink cattle do. My family and I have biked past this ranch in the heat of summer and didn't notice any smell at all (can't say that about cows or pigs). Their property is gorgeous, the Bergman's keep it exceptionally clean, and if you didn't see the alpacas behind the tall fences, you'd probably think it was somebody's well-tended yard. Personally, I'd rather live next to alpacas than some of the tacky McMansion monster homes that are being built in Alpine and Highland.
Oh, and alpaca fiber is fabulous to work with - I'm a knitter, and I'd love to see that industry grow in the US!

When I grew up in Alpine 35 years ago, there really were ranches and dairies. Heatons for example. Now it is just a playground for the rich who quickly want to shut the door on anyone else and now raise exotic creatures. I don't think there is a single person in Alpine that actually milks a cow now or uses their ranch to feed their family. Its just turned into another Neverland from the Michael Jackson's of the world.