By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post
County officials are taking a close look at a planned Tiger World near Rockwell.
Lea Jaunakais, a South Carolina woman, announced plans earlier this week to buy the former Charlotte Metro Zoo and convert the 30-acre facility into a big-cat habitat with 30 tigers, 10 lions and assorted other animals.
Arnold Chamberlain, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, said Wednesday that his “e-mail is beginning to light up” with concerns from people who live in the area.
Chamberlain has asked the county health and planning departments to research the issue. “Everybody is at work,” he said.
Commissioners have not discussed the coming cat attraction at a board meeting. But Chamberlain said individual commissioners are watching the situation closely.
“Concern is a conservative word,” Chamberlain said. “I’m extremely concerned.”
“Personally, I don’t want any more lions and tigers and non-vegetarian wild animals (in the county) than we legally must have,” he said.
He confirmed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has licensed the facility.
County officials are looking specifically at the zoning issue. The Charlotte Metro Zoo existed prior to the enactment of zoning in 1998 and thereby became a non-conforming use.
County planners and enforcement are taking a close look at the proposed changes to see if they exceed the non-conforming status.
Planning Director Ed Muire advised county officials earlier this week in an e-mail that the proposed changes could require approval of the Board of Commissioners.
Chamberlain said he has concerns about the chain-link fence caging, pointing out that animals and people escape from such fences even with barbed wire on top.
He cautioned against people getting too overwrought, asking for time to examine the situation.
“It’s too early to say we oppose it. We’re choosing safety first,” Chamberlain said.
Plans to locate Tiger World in Rowan came after Chester, S.C. refused a rezoning request and subsequently adopted an ordinance banning exotic animals.
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Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com.