State agency will decide the fate of Safari Wild

The state will decide whether Safari Wild becomes "a new interactive wildlife experience in Lakeland."

Polk County growth managers last week signed off on the animal park's final development approval.

Because the project sits in the Green Swamp area, Florida's Department of Community Affairs gets 45 days to review the development package.

"If they find that this project is not in compliance with the Green Swamp regulations, they can appeal that development order and it would go to an administrative hearing," said Polk County Growth Management Director Thomas Deardorff.

Former Lowry Park Zoo CEO Lex Salisbury is a partner in Safari Wild. According to the animal park's plans, Safari Wild will house 1,000 animals and entertain up to 500 visitors a day. On its Web site, Salisbury says that Safari Wild will "allow for a new and improved guest experience with animals."

Neighbors hope the state rejects the plan that would allow what they say is basically a theme park to open in the Green Swamp.

"That's a full-scale commercial tourist operation," neighbor Robert King said. "We have become very concerned."

The Green Swamp is a vast series of swamps, bogs, forests and pastures. It feeds four major rivers and provides drinking water for much of Central Florida. The area is protected by state law.

"I'm hopeful that when it gets passed to DCA that they will say no, this can't happen in the Green Swamp. It is not a use that is suitable," neighbor Lois Murphy said.

The attraction gained national media coverage when a group of monkeys escaped from the compound and eluded capture for months.

Neighbors discovered plans to develop a private for-profit theme park in their area.

News Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune investigations revealed Salisbury mixed zoo and personal assets at Safari Wild. The zoo's board of directors forced Salisbury out of his job in December.

When asked about Safari Wild in May, Salisbury yelled, "Don't ever call me again, ever," then hung up the phone.

Neighbors worry about the impact Safari Wild will have on their quiet rural community as well as the Green Swamp.

Department of Community Affairs spokesman James Miller said once the agency receives a complete development order from Polk County, the state's 45-day clock to decide begins.

"Our planning staff reviews the development order packet and determines whether it is consistent with the county's comprehensive plan and local land development regulations," Miller wrote in an e-mail. "If it's not found in compliance, then we file an appeal with the Division of Administrative Hearings."