Bouldin Creek group fights wildlife gallery’s permit bid
A South Austin wildlife gallery on Wednesday filed for a conditional use permit despite opposition from the Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association, which voted the night before to reject supporting the permit.
The conditional use permit would allow the public more access to the Warren Wildlife Gallery owned by outdoor sportsman Rick Warren. The private gallery and residence, which was built on the site of a former church, displays a taxidermy collection featuring hundreds of birds and mammals.
The association, concerned about potential commercial use of the property, included in its motion Tuesday night a plan to request that the city require Warren to abide by the property’s SF-3 residential zoning. A conditional use permit, allowed under residential zoning, would qualify the gallery as a cultural service. Warren property representatives have said the permit would help the gallery offer educational tours for students as well as raise awareness about sustainable hunting.
Although Stephen Rye, an urban planner hired by Warren