A plan to bring a reptile zoo to London again stirred spirited discussion at city council, with proponents of the site successfully voting to change a bylaw allowing Reptilia to operate.
A committee of city councillors voted 3-to-2 Tuesday to create a special business licence category for the zoo, which has plans to open at facility at Westmount Mall. It’s already put up a sign, despite not having approval from the city. The decision still has to be approved by full council.
Reptilia operates in various locations across Ontario, including in the GTA. London is not the only city where the company has faced opposition. The city of St. Catharines recently said ‘No’ to allowing Reptilia to open in a shopping mall there.
“With 26 years of experience they know what they’re doing,” said Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen, who represents the ward where the zoo wants to open. “They’re considered experts in their field. We only have to look at their activity, and actions always speak louder than words.
Van Meerbergen voted to amend a bylaw which would require the company to have an emergency plan and documents showing a clean bill of health for each animal.
Coun. David Ferreira voted against amending the bylaw, warning it could set a precedent for other operators to seek similar exemptions.
“In the future, if we do open up these floodgates and we have another vendor come through who would like to show off bears, which is also a class 7 animal, or kangaroos, where does the buck stop? Do we say ‘No’ to that?” Ferreira asked.
The issue comes to council for final approval on Feb 14.
