February 5, 2025 Planning Board Regular Meeting Minutes

Mayor McCartney: Y SWEARING IN ¢ The Township Professional(s) sworn in. APPLICATIONS ¢ PB-24-20 Essex County/Turtle Back Zoo — Lemur Exhibit Block: 163 Lot: 1 Zone: R-1 The applicant, Essex County proposes to make renovations to the existing Sealion exhibit which will include renovation of the exterior pool area and will be renovated to house lemur and tortoises. This new space will allow the lemurs to move about and explore in a way that closely mirrors their natural habitat with expansive climbing tree structures, rocky outcrops and open areas where they can roam and exhibit their natural behaviors. PRESENTATION ¢ The attorney for the applicant, Mark Fleder, states the proposal is to make changes to an existing exhibit that has been at the zoo for a bit of time, formally known as the sea lion exhibit. e The landscape architect, Michael J. Piga, entered on the record, he was sworn under oath and his credential were accepted by the board. He testified to the following: e The existing sea lion exhibit is being proposed to change, which is located in the center of the zoo. They have an existing building there, where they have their touch tank and other elements. * On the north side was the sea lion exhibit and that’s where the focus of this design was. Mainly on the exterior of the facility where the pool was and there’s a little bit done on the interior. ¢ The pool will remain but will not be used as a pool at all. ¢ There are minor fagade changes to the exterior of the existing building, such as now they have a blue core gate steel which they are going to change the color to a brown. ¢ The existing building as part of the proposal will not be expanded or made larger. ¢ The overall exhibit will not get physically bigger. © The inside of the building will have minor changes such as changing out the caging, adding a little bit of heat and doing some painting. Other than that, they are not doing structural changes. e There are no changes to the drainage either from the building or the area around the building. There will be no changes to the method of visitors going out to and into the building Down on the lower portion of the area is where the edge of the existing sea lion exhibit is which will now change the name to Essex County Water or something of that nature. ¢ On the outskirts is where the pool used to be but now, they are turning it to a

of the existing sea lion exhibit is which will now change the name to Essex County Water or something of that nature. ¢ On the outskirts is where the pool used to be but now, they are turning it to a sandy beach for the lemurs and the tortoises. ¢ Visitors will still be able to come up to the existing windows, which they will be taking out and allowing them to see the tortoises that will be down at the lower end. There is a netting where they will be showing where the lemurs would be located. There will be a climbing structure in the center area. Most of the stone work out there