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Redington Shores considers Sanctuary proposal
| Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010 |
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REDINGTON SHORES – The Redington Shores Town Commission will consider a variance request by the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 7 p.m., on a proposed project to construct an aviary to rehabilitate birds of prey.
The variance request was recently passed by the town’s zoning and planning board.
However, Sanctuary spokeswoman Michelle Simoneau said town officials are indicating the issue may not pass when presented to the town commission.
“The mayor (Bert Adams) told us he was surprised it was passed (by the zoning board) and to not be surprised if it fails (before the town commission),” Simoneau said.
The Sanctuary has since updated a beautification plan for the proposed aviary as well.
For the project to continue, the Sanctuary needs to receive approval of a nonconforming use variance and a building setback variance from 20 feet to 7 feet from the east property line, which borders the San Remo condominiums parking lot.
Sanctuary officials believe their property at 18328 Gulf Blvd. should be grandfathered in and the aviary should be allowed as an accessory structure, which is permitted under the town’s land development zoning regulations.
The proposed aviary would be 40 feet long by 20 feet wide in an L-shaped structure. It would have no electricity, plumbing or floor and would consist of a lot of screening.
To meet U.S. Fish and Wildlife mandates for birds-of-prey rehabilitation, the aviary needs to be a minimum 40 feet by 16 feet.
In recent years, the Sanctuary has received record numbers of injured birds of prey, such as eagles, hawks, ospreys and owls. It is the only such rehab center in Pinellas County and needs to construct the aviary to keep up with the demand.
In recent years, the Sanctuary has grown into the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the U.S., rescuing an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 birds each year.
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Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010
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