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Neighbors urge careful design, setback and landscaping around Swanson memorial as zoo expansion proceeds
Summary
Neighbors who participated in the working group told the commission they support keeping the zoo in Land Park but want fence lines pulled back from the Swanson memorial, landscaping buffers, rigorous CEQA study and clarity on park access and parking impacts.
Larice Dessen, speaking for the Upper Land Park Neighbors Association, told commissioners the working group raised specific design concerns that should be acted on in early drawings and environmental review. "We appreciate the elimination of the statue, but the concern is placement of the fencing around it," Dessen said, urging that fence lines be pushed back and buffered with landscaping.
Neighbors and commissioners urged staff to ensure that the expansion does not create a "keyhole effect" around historic features and that pedestrian and parking impacts to Land Park be fully assessed in CEQA. Dustin Hollingsworth and the zoo representatives acknowledged the feedback, said the schematic drawings are preliminary, and said detailed fence and landscape decisions will be refined during CEQA and design phases.
The commission received the public comment; staff said those concerns would be captured in the staff report to council and addressed in subsequent environmental and design review rather than resolved tonight.
