At tense city council meeting, petting zoo Sustainable Safari approved at Burnsville Center
BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- Plans for a petting zoo at a Twin Cities shopping mall are causing an uproar among some animal activists.
The Burnsville City Council approved the addition of Sustainable Safari to Burnsville Center Tuesday.
A planned unit development amendment for Sustainable Safari was approved by a unanimous vote. The center was not previously zoned for use as a zoo, so the amendment was required for Sustainable Safari to open.
Multiple residents spoke out against the zoo at Tuesday's meeting, citing concerns about Sustainable Safari's accreditation, as well as animal welfare.
"A petting zoo, in a mall. It's preposterous," said resident Courtney White.
The zoo's owner, Bob Pilz, responded to those concerns during the meeting.
"I don't want the animals to be abused. I don't want them to be exposed to the wrong things. These animals, I've raised them. The reason they're good in the mall is because I've raised them," Pilz said. "We take care of these things. We have all the licensings that we have to follow in order to keep these things. So we do everything possible."
Pilz spoke later in the day with WCCO, saying he's not doing this to get rich, but to enrich the lives of the animals and the humans who meet them.
"The word 'mall' is what makes it difficult for a lot of people here, but it's really, it's four walls and a roof that allows us to get every aspect of humanity through here, meaning handicapped people, elderly. It's one level and it's year-round," Pilz said. "I want to assure people that we have full-time staff, full-time vet techs that are watching our animals every day. We inspect or do daily inspections on our animals to make sure that they're happy, non-stressed out and engaging."
Sustainable Safari President and CEO David Harvey told WCCO that at the Maplewood location, the zoo has a software system and veterinary team that checks each animal daily. Any animals showing signs of stress are taken out of the zoo and given time to roam at a large farm in the north metro.
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At a previous Planning Commission meeting, Pilz brought one of his animals, a baby kangaroo.
The council also responded, noting information and approvals it has received from agencies like the Department of Natural Resources and the United States Department of Agriculture. Council member Cara Schulz also noted, "it is not the role of government to become involved in the private business if the businesses are following the ordinances and the rules."
"If you came to government for morality, you came to the wrong place," Schulz said, prompting an outburst from members of the public.
Council member Vince Workman, after noting Pilz's preparedness and the completeness of his application, echoed Schulz's comments.
"We're not here to make decisions based on our moral compass," Workman said. "It's fitting our codes and our ordinances and so that's where we're at."
Sustainable Safari has operated inside Maplewood Mall since 2019. The Burnsville location would be their second, and 7,000-square-feet bigger, allowing for more animals and even water features. The space will include a petting zoo, party room and educational center.
It will be located in the mall's former Old Navy space and comprise about 17,000 square feet, according to the city.
Harvey said they hope to open the space in early 2024.