A Clovis-based developer with family ties to Sonora is exploring options to relocate a beloved building on Mono Way, known as the Bird House, as he moves forward with plans to build a new Dutch Bros Coffee and Take 5 Oil Change on the property.<\/p>\n
Michael Fillebrown said he\u2019s \u201cmaking every effort\u201d to save the quirky longtime landmark from the bulldozer after news of the project\u2019s approval by the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors at a public meeting Tuesday sparked concern among some in the community about the structure\u2019s fate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll do whatever I can to get it to the right place,\u201d Fillebrown said in a phone interview Wednesday.<\/p>\n
A relative of the late Hal Bird, who built the Bird House in the late 1960s as offices for his real estate business, is supposed to meet with Fillebrown later this week to evaluate the potential of having the long-vacant building moved elsewhere.<\/p>\n
If that doesn\u2019t work out, Fillebrown said he\u2019s already received a number of calls and offers since Tuesday from others who want to see the iconic structure preserved.<\/p>\n
Fillebrown emphasized that he\u2019s not making any guarantees, because the building will have to go one way or another if it interferes with his project, but he currently feels optimistic about finding a new home before they break ground in the next couple of months.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the amount of interest, I don\u2019t think that will be a problem,\u201d Fillebrown said.<\/p>\n
There was some debate among county supervisors over Fillebrown\u2019s project at Tuesday\u2019s meeting before they ultimately voted 4-1 to approve the required zoning changes and site development permit for the property at 12840 and 12842 Mono Way.<\/p>\n
District 5 Supervisor Jaron Brandon was opposed and advocated for the plans to be sent to the county\u2019s Historic Preservation Review Commission because he felt the Bird House could meet the criteria for being considered historic, which would prevent it from demolition.<\/p>\n
County staff noted the developer was required to hire an outside consultant to evaluate the property\u2019s historical significance, and it was determined that the structure did not meet the criteria for protection.<\/p>\n
Other county supervisors said they didn\u2019t feel the project should be delayed any further because the developer had already met all of the county\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\n
Fillebrown said the current plan is to have the new Dutch Bros Coffee and Take 5 Oil Change operational before the end of the year. His company, Main Gate Development Partners, works on such projects for Dutch Bros and other corporate tenants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it will be great for the area,\u201d he said of the opportunity for additional business along the Mono Way corridor.<\/p>\n