ST. CLOUD, Fla. — St. Cloud residents said they’re going to fight a new development to save eagles that have lived in their neighborhood for decades.
The residents on the 3400 block of Canoe Creek Road are calling on the city to stop a developer’s proposed 94-lot residential community, called Eagles Landing, from being built.
PDF: Plans for Eagles Landing in St. Cloud
A nest disturbance permit application for the area was recently received by Florida Fish and Wildlife.
Lally Development, which wants to build the community, can’t have the eagles removed, but according to plans presented by the city, it won’t have to.
The developer plans to keep the tree where the eagles nest in place, and build around it with a 660-foot buffer.
“I think they are going to chase them off,” said resident Carlos DeJesus.
Residents still aren’t sold on the idea.
“I don’t like it. I think they are going to disturb the eagles no matter how they do it,” said resident Sue Cole.
It’s not just the eagles’ nests up in the tree that people are worried about.
The developer may also have to relocate gopher tortoises.
The land has several burrows, but a study would have to be done to determine if the tortoises live there.
Channel 9’s Jeff Levkulich contacted Lally Development, but has not gotten a response.
The developer will bring the request before the St. Cloud commission Tuesday night.
WFTV
