The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission on Friday gave unanimous approval to two elements of the Lincoln Children's Zoo's expansion plans.
Commissioners voted to approve a Comprehensive Plan amendment, zoning change and special permit to allow the zoo to expand an overflow parking lot south of A Street at about 29th Street.
The zoo plans to expand the lot from 60 spaces to 145.
Commissioners also unanimously approved a local landmark designation for the Ager Indoor Play Center. The zoo plans to incorporate the building into its expansion plans by using it for animal exhibits, its original purpose.
The designation would require city review of any significant renovation proposed for the building that went up in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project.
The zoo is planning a $16 million expansion that will include new animal attractions and exhibits and activity areas that will be open all year.
People are also reading…
Original plans called for it to put most of its parking south of A and use existing parking space for expansion, but it later worked with the city to move the Parks and Recreation office now southwest of the zoo, allowing it to keep its expansion on the area known as the "Antelope Park Triangle" that's bound by A Street, 27th Street and Capitol Parkway.
Not everyone is in favor of that.
Walter Canney, former Lincoln Electric System administrator and a longtime parks supporter, expressed concern about what he called the "encroachment" of the zoo toward 27th Street.
Canney also said he worries the zoo at some point could take over the botanical gardens to its west. The gardens contain a fountain he donated in honor of his late wife.
Tom Huston, an attorney representing the zoo, said its lease agreement with the city specifically prohibits the zoo from using any of the garden areas for expansion.
Planning Commissioner Tracy Corr also said she doesn't want to see the Parks and Rec building torn down for parking, which will require parks offices to move to the Health Department's building at 31st and O. As part of that plan, the city plans to uproot a small part of Woods Park to add parking.
Corr and several other commissioners acknowledged, though, that those issues were outside the scope of what they were voting on Friday.
The plans will now move forward for final approval by the City Council.