Akron Zoo expansion approved after neighborhood concerns about smell and access

The Akron City Council voted to approve an expansion of the Akron Zoo’s Pride of Africa exhibit at a March 9 meeting, following a planning presentation and a public hearing in which supporters and local residents weighed benefits and concerns.

Planning staff described an expansion of roughly 9.25 acres south of Diagonal Road that will include multi‑species habitat space for giraffes, wildebeest, ostriches and marabou storks, two buildings (a giraffe barn with observation area and a stone/wood pavilion), and a 30‑foot ADA‑accessible observation tower. City planners said landscape buffering and retention or replacement of mature trees will be used to shield adjacent residences; the city arborist estimated approximately $142,000 in ecosystem services value for trees on the site.

Nate Storm, a project spokesperson, told the council the expansion is the zoo’s largest project and projected annual attendance would exceed 500,000 guests, and that the zoo plans to manage animal waste and mitigation similarly to other exhibits. “We are very excited about the largest project in zoo history that will cover approximately 8 acres on the zoo property,” he said, adding interactive feeding and observation opportunities for visitors.

Residents raised concerns about odor, noise and traffic. Linda Curry and other neighbors said they have previously complained about perimeter maintenance and said they wanted clearer information on the location of access roads and parking. Jada Taylor said she already finds zoo smells offensive and opposed further proximity of animal habitats to neighborhood homes; Dietra Taylor and other long‑time residents said they had not received adequate notice of the project and worried that work on the site looked pre‑decided.

Council members and planning staff reiterated that conditional use approval carries conditions and that the city’s nuisance code allows complaints about odors to be reported to the nuisance department. Planning staff and zoo officials committed to provide maps and to work with the neighborhood on landscaping, access and odor mitigation. Council reported the item favorably and approved the ordinance by recorded vote; planning conditions and follow‑up items were attached to the approval.

What’s next: Planning staff will provide site maps and a traffic/access plan to nearby residents and work with the zoo to implement landscaping buffers and tree mitigation measures identified during the hearing.