On August 14th, 2012, we at ZOOMARS Petting Zoo went before the San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission to appeal

the decision of Planning Director Grant Taylor that our dinosaur should be removed from the Los Rios Historic District. Over the last two months the dinosaur has become a hot topic among the members of our city. While a small group of people find his presence disagreeable, many more have stood in his defense. We would like to thank those who went before the commission and voiced their support of the dinosaur and of ZOOMARS. It is reassuring to know that so many in our community are behind us and wish to see the dinosaur stay. Although the Planning Commission ruled to uphold the decision of Mr. Taylor, we will continue to pursue a course of action that will hopefully allow us to make San Juan Capistrano and ZOOMARS the dinosaurs permanent home. While we are disappointed that the Planning Commission was not able to assist us in our goals we were prepared for such an eventuality and have already begun the process of making an appeal directly to City Council. We believe strongly in the mission of this project, which is to unite children with remnants of the prehistoric past in a way that is enlightening, educational and fun. ZOOMARS has long stood for the joy that making a meaningful connection with nature brings to the lives of our guests and we will stand strong in our efforts to show that this project will bring another layer of depth to that joy and will enhance the history of San Juan Capistrano. To ensure the safety of the children and families that visit ZOOMARS on a daily basis we have moved forward with a geotechnical survey of the soil on which the dinosaur stands. With these engineers and geologists we are working to create documentation of the security of its anchoring. The results of their testing should be available within the next week or two but upon initial investigation both teams were satisfied with their findings. In regards to the concerns that the statue may lead to a reversal in the efforts to preserve the Los Rios Historic District we would like to give reminder that no historic buildings or structures were moved or changed in the placement of this dinosaur. It is tucked back into the center of our property, barely visible from Los Rios Street and camouflaged by its color and the surrounding hills and trees. In the words of Planning Commissioner Roy Nunn, [The dinosaur] does not degrade or lessen the historic value of Los Rios Street. It is our sincere hope that we may come to a conclusion of this issue that is satisfactory to the city as well as beneficial to our zoo. The city of San Juan Capistrano has always had an eclectic mix of old and new and Los Rios Street has long been an example of that. Our community has evolved slowly with intermittent periods of rapid change. In a time of economic hardship for all, it is important to encourage this growth spurt and evolve once again, allowing local businesses to flourish and bring fresh interest to our beloved city.