County approves permits to reopen Moapa zoo

The Clark County Zoning Commission voted today to approve special use permits allowing Roos-n-More to operate as a zoo, two months after the commission voted to deny the same permits.

In September, Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, whose district includes the zoo, asked the commission to vote to reconsider the application and give her time to visit the nine-acre Moapa property, owned by husband and wife veterinarians Valerie and Jay Holt. The property is home to more than 200 animals, including monkeys, otters, armadillos, kangaroos, wallabies and porcupines.

Kirkpatrick said that over the last month and a half, she has taken numerous county staff members to the property — including health department, code enforcement and animal control staff — to address every issue the commission had raised.

County staff and the couple’s lawyers, Christopher Kaempfer and Bob Gronauer, came up with 34 conditions the zoo must abide by, including not breeding animals, working toward zoo accreditation, meeting with Kirkpatrick and county staff every other week and returning to the commission in six months for a review.

“No matter what side of town I was on, no matter who I was talking to, even at the grocery store, somebody approached me about how they go to this place,” Kirkpatrick said. “I wanted to work fresh to get us to a place that I feel would be beneficial to the community.”

As long as the zoo complies with all of the conditions, Roos-n-More will be able to host up to 200 visitors at its open zoo days. The zoo previously said those days provided the bulk of its financial support.

At today’s meeting, local animal-rights activist Linda Faso remained opposed to the zoo, comparing Roos-n-More to the now-defunct Las Vegas Zoo and questioning the zoo’s financials.

“For years they have been in financial trouble. This is a poorly-run business,” Faso said. “Time and time again, places like this have failed and left animals up for grab.”

Linda Dey, an adjacent property owner who previously opposed the zoo, today came to the defense of the Holts.

“I don’t think Valerie would do anything to harm those animals,” Dey said. “This is their life. I think if you give them a chance and review in six months, you’ll see they’re finally going to play by the rules and make this zoo work...”

Dey and her husband are in the process of selling their adjacent property to the Holts; the sale is in escrow.

Kaempfer said that by acquiring the property, the Holts eventually will be able to expand the zoo.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani cast the only vote against the zoo, continuing to raise concerns, including the zoo’s ability to care for its animals financially.

The zoo’s finances have been in a precarious position since January 2014, when inspectors from Clark County and the Southern Nevada Health District closed the facility to the public. Inspectors found the zoo did not have a commercial septic system and was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other issues. Commissioners also raised concerns at previous meetings about a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that found issues with some of the animal enclosures.

Kirkpatrick said there will be no second chances for the zoo, should it fail to comply with the county’s conditions.