Detroit Zoo to Meet with Residents About Events and Noise Feb. 12
(C. Proxmire, Feb. 4, 2015)
 
In response to Huntington Woods’ residents’ concerns about noise, The Detroit Zoo is hosting a 2015 Event Update meeting to include time for questions and answers from the public. The event takes place from 6pm to7pm at the Ford Education Center Theater at the zoo on Feb. 12.
“The Detroit Zoo has long been a source of disrupting noise–not from animals but from music that can last late into the night and also the fake Dinosaur entertainment, which is scheduled to return in 2015.  Last time around, the dinosaur soundtrack roared into our homes all day and into the night and kept us all on edge the whole summer,” said Huntington Woods resident Aaron Retish, who helped gather 26 resident signatures on a petition against noise.
The Detroit Zoo was given a noise waiver from the City of Huntington Woods last year, but Royal Oak’s ordinance has not been waived. The zoo property is mainly in Huntington Woods, with about 20% in Royal Oak.
Retish noted that by adding up the list of special events there would be 1,200 hours of amplified noise over the next year. The zoo is also considering adding a train, which residents fear will make the sound problem worse.
When asked about the concerns, Detroit Zoo spokesperson Paul Good said “We want to be good neighbors.  The meeting is an opportunity to give our neighbors a heads up on the Detroit Zoo 2015 calendar of events, construction plans and take questions.  We would like to work cooperatively on addressing issues for the benefit of both Zoo guests and our neighbors.”
The Huntington Woods City Commission is expected to take up the issue of the noise ordinance after the meeting on the 12th, according to City Manager Amy Sullivan.
The Detroit Zoo released the following agenda for the meeting:
Detroit Zoo 2015 Update
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Ford Education Center Theater, Detroit Zoo
6 pm – 7 pm
An information meeting on what will be going on at the Detroit Zoo in 2015

• Project Update:

o          Polk Penguin Conservation Center Update
o          Cotton Family Wolf Habitat
o          Great Apes
o          Bio Digester Project
o          Dinosauria

• 2015 Calendar of Zoo events
• Questions & Answer