Planning commission approves Little Zoo to You Fairbanks conditional use with manure-management condition

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission on Aug. 12 approved a conditional use permit for Little Zoo To You Fairbanks to operate a petting zoo at 689 Whitney Drive, voting to adopt staff recommendations and add a manure-removal requirement. The motion passed 11–0 after debate and one successful amendment to require off-site removal of animal waste at least twice monthly.

The decision allows Little Zoo To You Fairbanks to convert an existing property in the general commercial (GC) zoning district to a permanent location for a previously mobile petting-zoo operation that specializes in small farm animals. Planning staff and the applicant described the proposal as focused on low-impact species — Nigerian dwarf goats, ducks, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and similar animals — with operating hours proposed up to five days a week, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., and an estimated 1–30 vehicle visits per day during operating hours.

Nut graf: Commissioners approved the permit with conditions addressing wastewater, manure management, driveway configuration per Department of Transportation direction, and animal-noise limits. Neighbors testified with concerns about manure accumulation, odor and noise; staff and the applicant agreed to specified waste-handling practices and a condition that requires the applicant to follow Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) guidelines and to remove animal waste at least twice monthly.

Staff presentation and site details Anduin K. McElroy, a planning staff member, briefed the commission on the site history, zoning and conditions. The subject parcel is a remaining remnant of Lot 7 of the Kasalik Subdivision and measures about 13,895 square feet after road right-of-way changes reduced the original lot. The site contains two existing buildings and a proposed fenced area for animals. McElroy said the applicant submitted a revised site plan after receiving DOT comments that precluded a second driveway onto Whitney Drive; the plan was revised to accommodate two-way circulation within the lot and to widen the driveway.

McElroy told commissioners that DEC reviewed the wastewater plan and noted the approved plan did not include public restrooms; if the applicant wants public bathrooms they must obtain DEC review and any necessary permit amendments. The staff report also recommended conditions that animal waste be managed according to DEC manure-management guidance and that composted manure not be sold to the public. McElroy said the applicant showed a plan for a covered manure storage platform and for weekly transport of stored manure to an off-site composting location.

Applicant testimony and operations Applicant Theresa Ruge described Little Zoo To You Fairbanks as a mobile petting-zoo business that the family has run for more than three years and that has performed over 200 events. She said equipment and animals would be staged on-site and that some animals would live on the property once fencing and facilities are finished; others would rotate between the applicant’s residence and the site. Robert Ryan Ruge added the business is a family-run operation and emphasized a commitment to be a good neighbor: “This business endeavor when my wife and I got married was never on our radar. It… has poured her heart and soul into this,” he said.

Public testimony and concerns Three interested persons spoke. Mary Farrell, who lives on adjacent lots to the north, said the lot is small and after subtracting easement and required driving lanes there will be limited space for snow storage and waste management. She asked the commission either to prohibit on-site manure composting or to require strict time limits so material does not accumulate; she also asked that dogs not be left outdoors unattended. Gary Evans, a tenant and realtor who assisted the applicant in the purchase, urged approval and said the petting zoo would be less impactful than other commercial uses that could enter the GC zone. Jason Hersey, a nearby property owner, asked only that the borough set enforceable conditions so manure and other impacts do not attract wildlife or pests.

Key conditions, agency comments and amendments Staff recommended conditions that include adherence to DEC manure-management guidelines, a requirement that the applicant obtain DEC review for any public restroom service via the existing septic system, and amended site-plan elements to meet DOT direction on Whitney Drive access. DEC comments noted that manure-storage sites must be at least 100 feet from any well or water body, that composted manure cannot be sold to the public, and that manure-management practices should follow state guidance.

Commissioners debated manure handling and enforcement language. Commissioner Jennifer Campbell moved to add a requirement into the conditions that manure be removed from the site at least twice monthly; the amendment passed 7–4 and was added to condition number 2 in the staff’s list of conditions. An attempt to strike a separate condition banning roosters failed. Commissioners also discussed occupant limits (to be set by fire marshal inspection once interior construction is complete), parking and whether trailers could maneuver on-site; staff said parking meets minimum code and that DOT did not approve a second driveway onto Whitney Drive, so the site plan was revised to provide a 16-foot driveway for two-way circulation.

Formal action and outcome The commission moved to approve Conditional Use CU2025-010 (Little Zoo To You Fairbanks) with the staff report and amended conditions; the motion passed 11–0. The record shows the final motion adopted the staff report, the site-plan revisions required by DOT, DEC-related conditions for wastewater and manure, and the added borough condition that animal waste be removed from the site at least twice monthly. The staff report and the motion also retained a condition that no roosters be kept on-site, but a later proposed amendment to remove that prohibition failed.

Ending: Staff noted that the conditional use permit is subject to the borough’s compliance and revocation processes if the use becomes materially different from the approved application. The hearing record also notes the right of appeal to the board of adjustment within 15 days of notice of decision.