Critics Pan Plan For New Exhibit At Turtle Back Zoo

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Another proposed development project at the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange is seeing pushback from local activists.

Recently, blueprints and details for a big renovation at the zoo’s Asia-themed exhibit were released. The zoo’s current exhibit includes two rare species that are threatened with extinction: the Amur leopard and the red panda.

As required under state law, Essex County gave a “courtesy review” of the proposal to the West Orange Planning Board last week during their public meeting. Project details and renderings, including aerial views of the affected area, can be seen online here.

According to a memo from Planning Director Paul Grygiel, the proposal includes:

• A new clouded leopard exhibit
• Outdoor clouded leopard habitats
• Outdoor red panda habitats
• An ADA-compliant ramp to connect the clouded leopard and snow leopard exhibits
• A stamped concrete walkway and a stamped concrete zodiac wheel
• Concrete paver walkways
• Decorative concrete planters
• Decorative metal benches

The site is located in the R-1 Zone and abuts nearby South Mountain Reservation, which is located in portions of Maplewood, Millburn and West Orange, and borders South Orange. To the east of the site in West Orange is a residential neighborhood. There are commercial uses located on the north side of Northfield Avenue, with residential uses further north and to the west.

Grygiel noted that some questions remain about the proposal. He wrote:

“A concern is raised in the Master Plan Update about maintaining a balance between preservation and recreation in South Mountain Reservation … The township should continue to work with Essex County to allow for appropriate development without overwhelming what makes the South Mountain Reservation a special place.”

The plan appears to be limited to redevelopment within “an already developed area of the zoo.” However, the county should confirm whether the limits of disturbance extend the area of the zoo, Grygiel added.

French & Parrello Associates, which has been involved in the planning process for several other projects at the zoo, offered additional details in June letter to township officials:

“Essex County is proposing to renovate the Asia exhibit at the Turtle Back Zoo. The Asia exhibit is located within the zoo, along the main pathway, across from the existing Gibbons exhibit. The renovations to the Asia exhibit will consist of a plaza area, new habitat building, two outdoor habitat areas, and a small seating area to the east.

“Entering the renovated Asia exhibit area from the existing main zoo pathway, by way of a new staircase or by an ADA compliant/stroller friendly pathway. Visitors will be greeted by a new plaza area. The plaza area will consist of new concrete pavers laid in a random pattern, a circular stamped concrete area in the form of the zodiac calendar and a new seating area. To the rear of the exhibit area, is an ADA compliant ramp to create better circulation around the exhibit. The ramp will connect the new exhibit area with the existing leopard exhibit area to the east. Landscaping and site lighting will be designed to enhance the Asia theme.

“The plaza area will permit visitors to see the two new outdoor habitats. The new habitats will be located in front of the new Asian themed habitat building. The habitats will be designed to give the animals space to explore and move around. The habitat areas will be as tall as 20-feet and will be enclosed by black oxidized steel mesh. The inside of the outdoor viewing areas will consist of bamboo and log climbing structures and landscaping. The east outdoor exhibit area there will be a small zen pool for the animals to enjoy. It will also have a glass window for visitors to walk up and view the animals in their habitat.

“The Asia habitat building façade will be designed with an Asian theme. With sloping roofs, powder coated red steel posts and bamboo accents will strengthen this theme. Along the plaza side of the building, an indoor exhibit space will be visible to the public. This will allow visitors to view the animals in the winter. The interior will consist of dens for the animals, keeper alleys, food preparation area, transfer den, neo-natal and the indoor exhibit space. The dens will lead to their perspective outdoor exhibit areas and to outdoor off exhibit areas.

“On the east side of the existing Asia exhibit area, one of the older exhibits will be removed and a seating area will be incorporated. The seating area will utilize the existing shade structure that exists and place three new benches and stroller parking for the visitors to stop and rest.”

CRITICS: ‘A HALF-BAKED PLAN’

The proposed exhibit has its critics, however, including the Coalition to Save South Mountain Reservation, which called it a “half-baked, pricey, taxpayer-paid plan.”

“Based on our own independent review of the county’s construction bid blueprints, it appears the county has failed to provide the following key information,” the group alleged, sharing a list of their concerns.

THE ZOO’S BOUNDARIES – “While the county claims that the $3 million new Asian exhibit is ‘within the zoo’s footprint,’ their architectural drawings lack any clear delineation of the zoo’s boundaries. What is the footprint? What are the metes and bounds? Can we trust a chain link fence that keeps getting pushed out?

NO FIXED DATA – “The blueprint of the building lacks any reference to fixed identifiable points. A planning board would never approve a homeowner’s project that didn’t reference property lines or have a property site survey. Why should they approve it for the county?”

NOT SEEING FULL PLANS – “The West Orange Planning Board was given a truncated and incomplete outline of the project. How can they do due diligence when they have not seen the full plans?”

QUESTIONABLE REVIEW – “Has the county’s own engineer reviewed the plans? The blueprints do not seem to indicate this. Has West Orange’s engineer reviewed the plans?”

RUSH TO BID – “Why has this project gone out for a construction bid prior to the courtesy review from the Planning Board?”

NO MASTER PLAN – “The Master Plan for Turtle Back Zoo is in draft form. It has not been submitted for approval by the surrounding communities. Without an approved master plan, West Orange should not green light any further projects at the zoo.”

INCORRECT REPRESENTATION – “In the paperwork to the WO Planning Board, this was represented as a ‘revision.’ This is a complete teardown and re-construction. The current building is 200 square feet, the new building is listed as 1,290 square feet. This expansion of impervious coverage directs water to an existing detention basin. Can the basin take more water or will we continue to see flash flooding along the entire length of Cherry Lane? Shouldn’t we know this before approval? … The county’s application to West Orange for this hearing asks if this area is listed on the Historic Sites Survey of 1992. The county said no. In fact, the zoo’s ongoing expansion from 15.5 acres in 1963 to more than 30 now means that this exhibit has indeed encroached on land that was listed as ‘national register eligible.’ … Why does the county’s application to Green Acres (for state financing) say West Orange supports this project when no letter or support was included?”

UTILITIES – “The utilities on the drawings are all approximate and not based on a current survey. This leaves tremendous latitude for the construction crew and wastes time and money. Is this why county has added nearly a half million dollars of our taxpayer money as a contingency item into its budget?”

NO ENERGY CHECK – “COMcheck is the standard by which architects, contractors, etc. measure energy compliance to ensure new construction meets code. No COMcheck was done.”

Other proposed development at the county-run zoo has seen stiff opposition in the past few years, including a controversial plan to build an $8 million amphitheater. Officials said that plan was “put on hold” due to the coronavirus pandemic last year.

• See related article: Turtle Back Zoo Amphitheater Project 'On Hold,' Official Says
• See related article: Taxpayers Can't Bear Idea Of $16M Bear Exhibit At Turtle Back Zoo

Since 2003, there have been more than $100 million in upgrades done at the Turtle Back Zoo.

According to Essex County officials, funding for those projects has been provided through New Jersey Green Acres grants, existing capital improvement bonds, and donations from the Zoological Society, Essex County Parks Foundation, corporations or private foundations.

Projects have included:

Otters – A $1.2 million overhaul of the otter exhibit at the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo was completed in May. It was "completely overhauled" within the existing footprint of the old exhibit. Glass walls were installed to improve viewing areas for the public, new landscaping was planted inside the exhibit, and a new water filtration system was installed for the otters. (Learn more here)

Flamingos – A $3.2 million flamingo exhibit made its debut in 2018. It has a pool, nesting island in the middle of the pool and an imitation waterfall, as well as a 1,000-square-foot indoor facility to hold the birds when they aren't on exhibit. (Learn more here)

Leopards – A $2.58 million "behind the scenes" renovation took place at the leopard exhibit in 2018. (Learn more here)

Penguins – A $6 million habitat for the zoo's penguin population includes a 4,200 square foot building with fabricated rock walls and a 30,000-gallon salt water pool to simulate the animals' natural habitat. (Learn more here)

Lions/Hyenas – In June 2017, the zoo opened the Ronald J. Mount Lion and Hyena Exhibit, a $3.6 million, half-acre habitat that includes a two-foot pool and exposed rock formation, a heated stone patio to attract the lions, three public viewing stations and a heated, one-story building that is "designed to resemble an old North African fortress." (Learn more here)

Giraffes – In 2016, the zoo opened its long-awaited, $7 million giraffe exhibit, which included four Masai giraffes, as well as eland, whistling ducks, ostrich and tortoises. (Learn more here)

Other recent projects have included updating the Turtle Back Junction Train Station, renovating the Food Pavilion and entrance, and installing fencing and other infrastructure.

Attendance at the county-run zoo reached 907,522 in 2017, and according to officials, the zoo has operated as a self-sustaining facility, with "revenue collected exceeding operating expenses."

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