Washington County officials say they told a representative for a non-profit animal rescue last year - and again on Tuesday - that zoning rules prohibit the operation from moving to a site it prefers north of Hillsboro Airport.

But the representative for A Walk on the Wild Side, which has been located for about nine years in Canby, said Tuesday the county has sent mixed signals on the subject. Real estate agent Larry Burbidge predicted Walk on the Wild Side could proceed with its plans to move in April.

The nonprofit's co-owner, Steve Higgs, agreed, though he said he would consult with an attorney about his next steps.

On Tuesday, Washington County issued a statement saying it determined last spring that Walk on the Wild Side's functions would not conform to the Exclusive Farm District zoning for the property at 29875 N.W. Victory Lane Road.

To conform to that zoning, the statement says, the land must be used for the primary purpose of growing crops or raising livestock for profit.

"Because Walk on the Wild Side does not raise or sell animals for profit, it does not qualify as a farm use," the statement says, adding that any nonfarm activity would be prohibited on the land because the state Department of Agriculture has designated it "as high-value farmland."

"In order for Walk on the Wild Side to locate at the Victory Lane Road site, it would require changes in state law," the statement says.

That would appear to rule out the plan Burbidge mentioned Tuesday - raising horses for sale in one part of the spread while housing the exotic animals in another part. Burbidge said co-owner Cheryl Higgs has experience raising horses through work at the Portland Meadows racetrack.

However, the county told Burbidge Walk on the Wild Side could operate elsewhere, within the county's Agricultural and Forestry districts, said county spokeswoman Melissa De Lyser. She said county officials showed Burbidge a map of those districts last year.

"It's not like we're saying it can't locate in the county," De Lyser said. "We're saying they can't locate in this particular site."

Burbidge, however, characterized the county's stance as a recent development, likely in response to people who live near the proposed Walk on the Wild Side home.

"There's a bunch of hysteria that's risen up from neighbors and a tenant," Burbidge said. "There's a couple of sour-grapes situations going on and people who don't know what they're talking about."

De Lyser, however, said county officials were "stunned" when they read a story on The Oregonian/OregonLive Tuesday that said Walk on the Wild Side was moving from Canby to Hillsboro.

Steve Higgs on Tuesday backed away from his statement to the news organization about plans to open the Hillsboro-area property to groups such as Make-A-Wish, military veterans and Head Start.

"We'll be there opening the horse facility in May and housing the animals," he said Tuesday. "We don't know if we will even open to the public."

Instead, Walk on the Wild Side may continue to bring some its animals to public events, as is done now. Last year, Clackamas County officials ordered Walk on the Wild Side to stop allowing public visits to their Canby site, stemming from a zoning disagreement.

Meanwhile, the current resident of the Hillsboro-area property where Walk on the Wild Side would locate received the equivalent of an eviction notice over the weekend.

"I'm just worried about our neighbors," soon-to-be former resident Roddina Barrett said Monday. "Nobody knew they were coming."

--Allan Brettman

503-294-5900

@allanbrettman