Leader Staff
It took five months of delays for the Shawano Plan Commission to recommend a special zoning exception for a private zoo at Anello’s Torch Lite, but the Common Council made it official Wednesday in a matter of minutes.
The restaurant at 1276 E. Green Bay St. was informed in August that its zoo violated the city’s zoning ordinance and was ordered to reduce its number of animals to the eight approved by the Plan Commission in 2003.
Owner Rita Mondus subsequently applied for a USDA license and submitted a new application with the city for a special exception to the zoning code, this time specifying up to 65 animals.
The Plan Commission signaled it was willing to grant the exception as far back as September, but approval was held up while Anello’s awaited its USDA license, which finally arrived last month.