The Shawano Common Council on Wednesday agreed there should be no enforcement of the zoning code against the petting zoo at Anello’s Torch Lite while Anello’s is applying for a new special exception.
The restaurant at 1276 E. Green Bay St. was informed last month that its petting zoo, also known as Cuddly Acres, was in violation of the city’s zoning ordinance.
Anello’s was ordered last month to downsize its petting zoo to within the limits set by the Plan Commission in April 2003. According to minutes of that meeting, commissioners limited the number of animals that could be displayed to eight.
A recent inventory counted 54 animals.
The Plan Commission last week took a new look at the issue and seemed open to granting a new special exception allowing for a greater number and variety of animals than were originally approved 10 years ago.
However, the commission did not have the power to rule that the zoning code should not be enforced in the meantime.
City Attorney Tim Schmid on Wednesday recommended the Common Council approve a motion holding off on enforcement.
“The Plan Commission is looking at modifying the code or granting a special exception modifying the number and type of animals,” Schmid said. “At this point I don’t think it makes any sense to proceed with a citation being issued.”
The council approved the motion without discussion.
A public hearing on the new special exception will have to be held before the Plan Commission next month before the request goes to the Common Council.
The flap over the zoo’s number of animals arose from an incident in July when a 15-year-old Milwaukee girl reported being bitten by a fox at the petting zoo.
Owner Rita Mondus said the the girl ignored signs stating the animals were not to be fed and put a piece of food into a pen where the fox was being kept.
Police took an inventory of the petting zoo’s animals after the incident.
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