[FEL-L] DURHAM - Exotic animal facility review before county planning panel

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Exotic animal facility review before county planning panel
 
 
By ROGER H. AYLWORTH - Staff Writer 
Article Launched: 11/14/2007 12:11:46 AM PST 


DURHAM -- Complaints about too many cages and a dilapidated perimeter fence 
at the Barry Kirshner Wildlife Foundation have led to a discussion Thursday 
before the Butte County Planning Commission. 
According to county documents, numerous complaints from unidentified 
individuals prompted code enforcement officers to inspect the facility this past 
August. 

The inspectors said an 8-foot-high fence — that is supposed to provide 
"secondary containment" if animals should escape their enclosures — was falling 
apart. In one place the fence was held together by ropes and elsewhere it was 
being propped up by poles. The fence is specifically required under the use 
permit. 

Code enforcement personnel also found two more 12-by-12-foot cages than are 
allowed under the permit. 

This week's hearing will be to decide if the situation is such that a more 
formal public hearing should be held to consider revocation of the use permits. 

Roberta Kirshner, in a telephone interview with the Enterprise-Record, said 
she immediately took out the necessary building permit to correct problems with 
the fence, and the fence work is completed. 

She said the two extra cages were constructed because she "misinterpreted" 
the exact wording of the existing use permit. 

"All we want to do is make sure everything is done right, and if something 
needs to be done we are more than willing to do it," said Kirshner. 

The county report also stated Kirshner has submitted an application to amend 
her existing use permits. 

The amendment asks permission to construct 15 more enclosures, ranging from 
12-by-12 feet, to 20-by-20 feet. If approved, the new enclosures would be 
constructed on an "as needed" basis. 

The proposed amendment would allow increased visitor traffic at the Durham 
facility. The current permit allows 10 passenger cars a day and one bus a month 
at the park. The proposal would be to up that to 16 cars a day and 30 buses a 
year. 

Kirshner is also asking to be able to go from its 15 "wild or exotic" animals 
to 20 animals weighing 40 pounds or more, plus specific permission to add 
either a jaguar or cheetah, for a total of 21 large animals. 

The request also seeks permission to allow an unlimited number of small wild 
or exotic animals under 15 pounds. 

The proposed permit would also extend the foundation's hours of operation. 

Kirshner told the E-R she didn't want to discuss the proposed use permit 
amendment, however she did say she was confident the Planning Commission will make 
the right decision. The proposed use permit change is not on Thursday's 
agenda. 

"I think the Planning Commission will be open-minded. I respect them. I think 
they will make good judgment calls," she said. 

During Thursday's hearing, the commission will take testimony from anyone who 
wants to speak. 


Staff writer Roger H. Aylworth can be reached at 896-7762 or 
_raylworth at chicoer.com_ (mailto:raylworth at chicoer.com) . 


BACKGROUND: The Barry Kirshner Wildlife Foundation is essentially private zoo 
in Durham that allows the public to see exotic animals, including big cats. 
It operates under use permits issued in the late 1990s and 2001. 

WHAT'S NEW: Thursday, the county Planning Commission will consider alleged 
violations of the current use permit. The meeting will take place at 9 a.m. in 
the Board of Supervisors room in the County Administration Building on County 
Center Drive in Oroville. 

WHAT'S NEXT: The foundation is seeking an amended use permit that would allow 
for more animals, more hours of operation, more cages and more visitors. 

_http://www.chicoer.com/ci_7457283?source=rss_ 
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