The State - News from July 10, 1988

Two snake experts have clashed over a rare and beautiful garter snake whose possible presence at a building site has held up construction of a $7-million housing project for the elderly in San Francisco. After a snake authority from the San Francisco Zoo reported that he had seen the endangered garter snake several times at the site, city officials hired another snake expert to investigate. Samuel M. McGinnis concluded that the snake probably had not lived in the area since the early part of the century. He said the zoo official was either mistaken or had seen a snake that had escaped from a collection. Calling McGinnis’ report “out of line,” zoo official Anthony Colonnese said he was “more than a bit outraged.” The Planning Commission nevertheless ordered the project’s developer to prepare an environmental impact report that will hold up construction for at least six months.