Security plans for the National Zoo are on pause

The Smithsonian’s plan to harden security around the National Zoo by cutting the number of entrances and adding checkpoints didn’t sail through a vote at the National Capital Planning Commission yesterday. The commission voted 8 to 1 to defer the decision until September, the Washington Post reports.

The vote comes after backlash to the plan from neighbors who didn’t want the zoo to be cut off from the community. Before the fall meeting, the Smithsonian now needs to reach out to the community and explain the security threats that prompted the updates in fencing in the first place.

• Plans for new Zoo fence and entrance put on hold [WaPo]
• The Smithsonian’s security plans for the National Zoo face more scrutiny [Curbed DC]
• The National Zoo wants to put up security checkpoints [Curbed DC]