TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Email
Print
Red Tape Entangles Safari Wild In Lakeland
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: August 18, 2008
TAMPA - The biggest adventure going on at Safari Wild exotic animal park in Lakeland seems to be the effort to bushwhack through the bureaucratic mess that halted the project.
Polk County officials are meeting this week to untangle the land-use and permitting problems and figure out how to move forward.
At the same time, the Florida Department of Community Affairs remains concerned the development led by Lowry Park Zoo President and CEO Lex Salisbury would violate regulations in the Green Swamp area, which is land the state designated for special environmental protection.
Agency staffers are waiting for their first official look at the proposed exotic animal park, which would include safari tours for the paying public.
"We've suggested they apply for building permits within 30 days so that it can come back to us for review," said Ed George, an agency spokesman.
Nobody will say how long it could take to resolve the issues. Some of the problems are not quick fixes, such as the need to provide water for fire trucks in the event of a blaze on the land. It's unclear whether the delays will scrap the owners' plans to open the for-profit attraction next year.
Safari Wild owners have met with county commissioners and lawmakers who could be important political allies. They have not been as eager to meet with the department heads who have identified specific problems with the project, county staffers said.
"I've only had one meeting with them," Polk County Attorney Michael Craig said.
In March 2007, Salisbury and St. Petersburg veterinarian Stephen Wehrmann bought 258 acres of land north of downtown Lakeland for $2.37 million.
They want to create an exotic animal park where about 500 daily visitors would see about 1,000 exotic and endangered species, such as cheetahs, rhinoceroses and zebras. The original plan calls for 40 overnight cottages and a restaurant that would serve alcohol.
Today, Salisbury uses the land as a refuge for Lowry Park Zoo animals that need a break from life on display.
The county ordered a stop-work order on the property in late May after officials became concerned that buildings erected on the property appeared to be more substantial than the basic animal barns permitted by county staff.
Since then, the owners have garnered support for the project by hosting several tours of the property for Polk County officials and community leaders. Salisbury attended at least one local political fundraiser and made a donation to the chairman of the county commission.
Salisbury declined to be interviewed about the project. Wehrmann could not be reached for comment.
A Matter Of Interpretation
The owners have pitched the project as agricultural tourism, not commercial development. They equate Safari Wild to cattle ranches and citrus farms that open themselves to tourists.
To county officials, Salisbury has tried to make the case that Safari Wild is an agricultural project and therefore exempt from Polk's land-use regulations.
"I haven't found anything supporting that interpretation," Craig said.
Ben Parks, a lobbyist for the Florida Farm Bureau, toured Safari Wild recently and has helped Salisbury try to persuade local leaders of the agricultural nature of the project.
Salisbury has eliminated the overnight cottages from the plan, bolstering the case that the buildings are agricultural and don't need permits, Parks said.
County, State Spot Problems
For the county, several issues remain:
•Building officials still say Safari Wild lacks necessary building permits for the construction that has already been done and that will be needed in the future.
•The fire marshal is concerned the gravel road to the property isn't adequate for emergency vehicles. The fire marshal is also concerned the site lacks water necessary to fight fires on the property.
•The owners need to submit a detailed site plan for county planners to review.
The state has problems, too.
In 2006, the community affairs department raised several issues with the commercial nature of the project in the Green Swamp area.
Tracy Suber, a state planning administrator, wrote a letter to the county taking issue with the size of the project and the increased traffic. She also said the agency hadn't seen detailed drawings or plans for the development.
At the time, the agency said the size of the project would require an amendment to the comprehensive plan and must prove the development won't cause environmental damage.
County commissioners never voted on any proposed amendment.
At least one county commissioner supports Safari Wild's plans.
"There are issues to work out, but I think we can work through this," said commission chairman Sam Johnson, who went on a guided tour of the property. "I want to make sure the proper process was followed, and is followed."
Johnson echoed Salisbury's description of the project as agricultural tourism. "There's a benefit to the community," he said.
Salisbury attended a July campaign fundraiser for Johnson's re-election and donated $250 with a check from Safari Wild, according to county records.
Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668 or bhelgeson@tampatrib.com.
Email
Print
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
