After working with two cities for several months and making trips between Utah and California, a snake keeper will be able to move his exotic reptiles to Spanish Fork.

Wednesday was déjà vu for Dan and Colette Sutherland, as they presented the details of their snake business to the Planning Commission in Spanish Fork. Just a month ago they presented the same details before a packed Mapleton Planning Commission.

The Mapleton commission told the Sutherlands they could open the business on property there, with a limited number of snakes. The couple chose to move.

This time, however, there was no limit on number, which will allow the Sutherlands' 1,500 snakes and their babies, along with the mice and rats that the ball pythons and boas eat, to move to Spanish Fork.

There were six conditions that the Spanish Fork Planning Commission placed on the business, in a 4-1 vote. The first is that no venomous snakes can be on the premises; the second, there can be no dangerous snakes for which a handling permit is required; third, the facility must be kept to industry caging standards; fourth, all rodents must be caged; fifth, a security system must be used; and the sixth was that the facility be maintained so it's not a nuisance in odor or traffic.

The commission decided that the state Division of Wildlife Resources will be called to check up on the Sutherlands' business if complaints are received.

The snakes haven't moved to Utah yet; they've stayed in California, awaiting a decision.

"It's finally over," Dan Sutherland said outside the city hall. "Thank you to Spanish Fork."

During the meeting, the Sutherlands assured Spanish Fork residents the snakes' cages can survive an earthquake, as evidenced by their survival of the Northridge, Calif., earthquake in 1994.

Dan Sutherland said he's never had a snake escape, and a partner in the industry pointed out that losing a snake is just as scary to him as it is to the concerned residents.

"It's a $2 billion industry," said Lindon resident and snake breeder Jeremy Stone. "They are dealing with really high-end animals. Some of their animals are $20,000-$30,000 each. It really is a big business."

The Sutherlands have been trying to move their snakes to Utah since January, when they first contacted Mapleton. Dan Sutherland submitted a request for a building permit for two barns and purchased a home, spending $600,000.

At that point, neighbors learned about the Sutherlands' plans and created a brouhaha, leading to several unfriendly shouting matches and packed City Council meetings. Mapleton officials said the Sutherlands needed a conditional use permit and limited the number of snakes allowed to 200, far less than what the breeding facility needs to stay in business.

Bob Bradshaw, Mapleton city manager, said he helped the Sutherlands relocate to Spanish Fork after the number was decided.

The snake business will be at 811 E. 1950 North in Spanish Fork, in an industrial zone, and closed to the public.

Natalie Andrews is available at 344-2561 or nandrews@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B1.