A proposal to expand the San Diego Zoo has forced city officials, civic activists and the Zoological Society to reexamine the zoo and its relationship to Balboa Park, where the facility is located. San Diegans consider both the zoo and the park civic treasures, and finding a compatible mix is proving to be a time-consuming and politically sensitive project. Although the issues are complex, the questions are relatively simple — how large to make the zoo, and how to solve traffic congestion and parking problems. Neighbors, who have been most outspoken in opposition to zoo expansion, feel the brunt of the current problems because the popular zoo lacks adequate parking on at least one-third of the days of the year, according to zoo officials. Last year, the zoo proposed a 24.5-acre expansion that would have required demolition or relocation of several assets in a National Historic Landmark Zone. Included in the expansion was the replacement of 3,000 free parking spaces with a larger parking structure that would generate revenue for the zoo. The city's Planning Commission gave approval for the Zoological Society of San Diego, which operates the city-owned zoo, to move forward with studies and planning, but the commission did not indicate whether it would approve the expansion. Members of the public, especially historic preservation advocates and area residents, voiced concern about the early plans for the New Century Zoo. The public outcry forced zoo leaders to re-evaluate their proposal, said Angela Colton, of the city's planning department. "It's a public policy question: What place should the zoo have in the city of San Diego?" said Stephen Haase, the city's development review manager. "The zoo is a part of what the city decided to provide as a resource. The city decided that 85 years ago." The zoo's initial plans called for replacing the 1948 War Memorial Building with a five-story parking structure, removing the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad, relocating the carousel, displacing an archery range and eliminating 3,000 free parking spaces. Those plans were not popular for a variety of reasons: The War Memorial Building houses a disabled services program, veterans groups and other community organizations. The miniature railroad and carousel are designated city historic sites. An earlier-approved city plan calls for converting the archery range into a nature preserve. The existing free parking lot is Balboa Park's largest. "It is ludicrous to take a space as beautiful as the War Memorial area, with the flat grass environment surrounding it and the gorgeous eucalyptus trees, not to mention the symbolic importance of the building to our veterans, and plow that over for some five-story building dedicated to housing cars," San Diego resident Laurel Deal wrote to the Zoological Society. Indeed, the proposals of eliminating the free parking lot and demolishing the War Memorial Building became lightening rods. City and zoo officials now say that last year's development plans are dead. But the Zoological Society is still pursuing its New Century Zoo objectives of expanding an endangered species breeding program, creating more naturalistic habitats for animals, adding parking, and building a more prominent entrance on Park Boulevard. "Without the room to develop larger and more natural enclosures to maintain a self-sustaining animal collection, San Diego's Zoo will cease being world-famous," Zoological Society President Dr. Kurt Benirschke wrote to Mayor Susan Golding. The Zoological Society is now undertaking a community outreach program, and it has hired one of its leading critics to help design the project. Steve Estrada of Estrada Land Planning had served as the consultant when the city adopted the Balboa Park Master Plan in 1989 and the Central Mesa Precise Plan in 1992. "The zoo had submitted a plan without any kind of public input at all. That's not what the [Master] Plan was all about," Estrada said. "They thought it was going to be a slam dunk, but they were slightly wrong." Estrada was helping opponents strategize when zoo representatives called. Estrada said he took the job when zoo officials said they were willing to start over. "They didn't lie. We are starting from scratch. We have a blank slate," Estrada said. The city has formed a working group of 40 stakeholders to examine conditions at Balboa Park, and needs of the zoo and other Balboa park users. The working group began meeting twice a month in February, according to the city's Colton. Forming the working group was the recommendation of two consultants, Alana Knaster of The Mediation Institute, and Alan Wiener of Consensus Facilitation. After interviewing about 70 people, including city officials, civic and business leaders, residents and environmentalists, the consultants found that many people had similar concerns — keeping the zoo world-class, preserving open space and passive park uses, ensuring multiple recreational uses of the park, and retaining the War Memorial Building. The working group approach is unusual, but it was clear the public needed a significant amount of input on the project, Haase said. He believes the panel can settle on a compromise plan, but, he added, "people are going to have to agree to disagree." Estrada believes the parties can settle on a plan that makes nearly everybody happy. There is no reason a plan that allows some zoo expansion and better parking must come at the expense of other park tenants and users, he said. Area residents are among the participants in the working group, which will likely bring a plan for the zoo to the City Council in 18 to 24 months, said Haase. Enough information should be available by this fall to allow planners to start an environmental review of the project, he added. The city adopted the Balboa Park Master Plan less than 10 years ago, but the plan left something of a hole where the zoo now exists, Haase said. That plan might need a fresh look, he said. The zoo currently leases 124 acres of the approximately 1,100-acre park, which is located in the heart of the city. The zoo is Balboa Park's most popular single attraction, but the park also offers a golf course, walking trails, picnic areas, a velodrome, gardens, and museums. "I think the ultimate goal is that Balboa Park remain a jewel for the City of San Diego. And we want the zoo to be a part of Balboa Park," Haase said. But, "parkland is precious there because you can't create more in that area." Some people have suggested the zoo could relocate altogether. The Zoological Society leases about 2,100 acres in Escondido for its Wild Animal Park. But both Haase and Estrada said relocation is probably not feasible. Escondido offers a much warmer and dryer climate than Balboa Park, which is near the ocean, and some animals and plants need the current site's cooler and moister weather. Plus, both the zoo and the city have made large capital investments at the current site. Contacts: Stephen Haase, San Diego development review manager, (619) 446-5467. Steve Estrada, Estrada Land Planning, (619) 236-0143. Angela Colton, San Diego planning department, (619) 446-5042. City website: www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/zoo-lease Zoo website: sandiegozoo.com/special/newcentury