BATON ROUGE – After almost 3 hours of public discussion for and against the proposal to relocate the Baton Rouge Zoo, the BREC board voted unanimously to keep it in its current location.

As consultants spoke about their findings supporting a move for the zoo, those against held signs behind the podium.

Signs read “Don't move the zoo from its perfect location.”

The BREC board was considering moving the zoo from North Baton Rouge to the fairgrounds off Airline Highway near the Ascension Parish line. The meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, was packed with people. The vote came just before 8:30 p.m.

Hours earlier, Metro Councilwoman Chauna Banks called for the resignation of the head of BREC after recordings were leaked where Superintendent Carolyn McKnight is heard speaking negatively about the zoo in its current location and those against the proposal to move the zoo.

Consultants said they planned to develop as many as 75 acres of the more than 100 at the location.  There would have been more than enough flood mitigation - or retention ponds - engineers said.  No specific plans were designed for buildings or attractions.

WBRZ.com was first to report the latest controversy HERE.

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