Park City’s long, public dispute over an 11,000‑square‑foot home and two Bernese Mountain dogs reached a new phase after a Summit County judge dismissed two lawsuits following a council‑approved consent agreement. Neighbors, led by Eric and Susan Fredston‑Hermann, contend the design violates Historic Old Town rules and that the consent agreement improperly limits their right to judicial review. The Hermanns have filed additional suits over alleged unlawful permit extensions and plan changes; the dog case and the permit challenge are due in court in December.
Good Dogs, Bad Blood: Park City Billionaire, Neighbors Clash Over 11,000‑Sq‑Ft Mega‑Mansion
A rendering shows Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince's planned Olson Kundig-designed estate above historic Old Town Park City. After nearly two years of bitter litigation, a Summit County judge dismissed two lawsuits related to the proposed project (Park City Planning Commission)
Park City neighbors and Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince remain embroiled in a high‑stakes dispute over an 11,000‑square‑foot home and two Bernese Mountain dogs. After nearly two years of litigation, a Summit County judge dismissed two lawsuits after the city approved a consent agreement that clears the way for construction—though additional legal fights continue.
Background
The conflict began in 2022 when Prince and his wife, Tatiana, proposed an expansive new residence in Park City’s Historic Old Town, drawing design inspiration from the town’s mining‑camp past. The Park City Planning Commission narrowly approved the project in early 2024, but a group of about ten neighbors—including Eric Hermann and Susan Fredston‑Hermann—appealed, arguing the proposal was out of scale with the neighborhood.
Dog Lawsuit And Public Backlash
In April 2024 Prince filed a separate civil complaint against the Hermanns, alleging their two Bernese Mountain dogs, Sasha and Mocha (about 100 pounds each), had "menaced" his family while using a nearby trail easement, chased and harassed family members, defecated on his property, and behaved aggressively toward his elderly mother and infant daughter. The Hermanns strongly denied the allegations.
Prince told the Wall Street Journal: “I get that we're rich a**holes, but at some level I'm also a father, and I have to protect my daughter.”
The complaint generated a vocal local reaction: "Save Sasha and Mocha" stickers appeared around town, a satirical skit featured the dogs at a charity event, and The Park Record (a local paper the Princes purchased) covered the dispute extensively—an action the Hermanns say has been used to shape public opinion against them.
Historic‑Design Challenge
Separately, the Hermanns and other neighbors challenged the building approval on historic‑district grounds. They submitted an expert memo from environmental consultancy SWCA contending that certain design elements—such as a shed roof and cantilevered flat roof—read as large‑scale industrial massing and therefore conflict with Park City’s Land Management Code and Historic Guidelines, which require new construction to be compatible with neighboring historic structures in materials, size, scale, proportion and massing.
The cleared plot for the home is seen above. Neighbors challenged the planned home over its size, height, roof, parking and compliance with Park City's historic-design rules. (Google Earth)
Consent Agreement And Recent Rulings
Late in 2025 Utah’s Municipal Code change SB262 took effect, giving local bodies the option to settle active land‑use litigation via consent agreement. On January 15, the Park City Council approved a consent agreement with the Princes by a 3‑1 vote. Judge Richard Mrazik later determined that the consent agreement rendered at least two pending Hermann lawsuits moot and dismissed those suits.
Bruce Baird, a lawyer for the Princes, said the ruling validated the agreement and allowed construction to move forward. The Hermanns maintain the consent agreement unlawfully circumvents their right to a judicial hearing and emphasize that Judge Mrazik dismissed some appeals without prejudice, meaning underlying claims could still be pursued.
Ongoing Litigation And What Comes Next
In February the Hermanns filed another suit in Third District Court, alleging the city unlawfully extended expired building permits for the Princes and that subsequent plan changes—such as added easements—mean the project no longer complies with Park City’s updated height and massing rules. Both the dog case and the Hermanns' challenge to the permit extensions are scheduled for court in December.
The Hermanns say they remain undeterred and continue to describe Sasha and Mocha as loving and gentle. The dispute has become a focal point in Park City, raising questions about local land‑use rules, historic preservation, the influence of wealthy property owners, and how communities resolve high‑profile neighborhood conflicts.
Key Parties
Owner/Developer: Matthew Prince (Cloudflare CEO) and wife Tatiana; 11,000‑sq‑ft proposed home; parcel on King Road. Opponents: Eric and Susan Fredston‑Hermann and several neighbors. Local Paper: The Park Record (owned by the Princes).
Help us improve.
