Animal exhibition issue tabled by planning commission

The Rogers City Planning Commission tabled a special approval use application Monday for an animal exhibit at the Waters Edge Restaurant. A request from the planning commission will require restaurant owner Norm Arlt to provide a survey to establish accurate property lines.

The highly debated issue sparked resident comment at the public hearing from those who oppose the project.

The application seeks approval to construct a fenced enclosure that would house, on a temporary rotating basis, an elk, moose, and deer behind the restaurant for viewing.

The proposed fenced enclosure would be located between the restaurant and the trail that follows the Lake Huron shoreline.

Speaking against the issuance of a special permit was resident Ron Dugan on behalf of both he and his wife Hannah.

?We?ve lived for 12 years in Rogers City across from the Waters Edge,? Dugan began. ?Our concern is a pen is an inappropriate, not natural setting, and would turn the area into a sand lot or barnyard instead of natural habitat. We oppose granting the permit.?

Lois Plichta represented herself and her husband Arnold when she addressed the commission. ?I live right across from the Waters Edge, and I agree with Ron and Hannah. This is not something that would be comfortable to the animals — and animals make a mess — how would the odor be taken care of??

BUSINESS OWNER John Budnik said, ?As a business owner I would support Norm.? Then he asked if there would be a double fence so a child could not put their hand in the fence, and how long the animals would be in the enclosure.

Anne Belanger asked, ?What would be the long term effects and was there a plan for soil remediation??

Arlt answered Belanger?s question, saying there would only be three animals and the space was more than what the DNR requirements mandated.

Marlo Belanger asked the commission to make the effort to visit local veterinarian Jay Schuiteman and view his deer enclosure to discover for themselves how depleted and barren the enclosure can become within a short period of time.

?When I dine out I select good food, good service, and good prices,? Belanger noted. ?I would not like to smell the odor or see excrement from the animals.?

Debra Greene addressed the commission saying, ?I have concerns with the fence safety issue — in Hillman they have an elk farm with 12-foot high fencing. Elk are unpredictable and can become very aggressive at any moment. We had to stand 10 feet back from the fence because elk charge the fence at any provocation when spooked.

?THIS NEEDS to have a bigger setback, you can?t mess with elks, they are huge animals and they can turn on you,? Greene added.

Arlt reminded the commission that if something did happen the city did not have any liability; it remained with him.

Jim Dempsey said, ?This is a business decision. If there?s a smell, I?m going to be the first one to complain — but I think Norm should be able to try anything and everything to help his business…if it fails, Norm is a smart man. He?ll change or correct it.?

Arlt addressed the commission saying, ?We think this will be a definite tourist attraction. A place right in the city in Harbor Springs has a minimum of 200 people per day viewing the deer.?

Several letters of opposition were read by clerk Judy Darga. The letters listed concerns about the project?s amount of land available for the enclosure, was it DNR approved, how many animals, and the setbacks, as well as complaints about the type of chainlink fencing not being conducive to natural habitat of the area.

RC assistant engineer Paul Warwick, who provided the staff report on the project, said the city requires 2,500 square foot per animal and there is 7,970 square feet available — only enough for 3.18 animals in the enclosure.

His other concern was the fence offset and the actual property line locations.

?THE PROPERTY lines must be addressed yet,? Warwick told the commission.

Mayor Beach Hall said he was not comfortable making a decision until a survey could be provided showing the back property lines with some survey stakes.

Ralph Baker addressed tho

se present saying, ?This has been going on for several months. It seems businesses are encouraging it and a few people are attempting to suppress the idea. I just don?t understand why you?re doing this. I look at the majority of people and that?s who I go with. This decision should have been made months ago.?

When all was said and done the commission passed a motion not to act on the application until Arlt could provide a survey to establish the actual property lines.

The decision could come as early as December 8 when a special meeting is scheduled to hear a proposal from Tendercare for a building addition.