The great blue herons nesting in their once-secret rookery in the woods near Rochester continue to stir up controversy. Now they are getting some lift from township officials.
On Thursday, the Rochester Township board agreed to study whether a proposed housing development that would cut through the unusual nesting grounds would significantly affect the majestic birds.
The environmental assessment was requested by Save the Rookery, a group created to protect the previously undocumented colony. Its petition now contains more than 1,400 signatures.
"We're thrilled," said Lynn Cornell, a local resident and member of Save the Rookery.
Township Clerk Randy Staver called the resolution "a good thing."
"It just shows people are willing to do due diligence," Staver said.
Staver said Rochester businesswoman Aderonke Mordi, the developer of Pavilion Estates, agreed to participate and offered no pushback. Mordi did not respond to a request for comment.
The environmental assessment will happen only if the Olmsted County Board next week votes to change the land-use designation for the forested acres to "suburban development," a change necessary for the project to proceed.