On Tuesday, the Towamensing Township Zoning Hearing Board denied a request for a homing pigeon business in the township.

Damon Graves and Kate Hillenbrand were appealing a zoning variance to “construct a racing homing pigeon loft and to operate a white dove release business.”

The variance is requested for private livestock operation. The proposed business does not meet the home occupation requirements and the property, located at 120 Elias Circle, Lehighton, is in a Residential Zoning district.

Graves explained that he is requesting a hardship exemption as the business would supplement the family’s income. He noted that the pigeons are vaccinated and trained to return to the property. All bird waste would be used as garden compost. The request was to have 60 pigeons at the property, with a maximum of 30-40 out at one time.

An enclosed structure already exists on the family’s property where the pigeons would stay. A request was made to build a 3-by-8-foot aviary as well.

Graves is a member of the Tamaqua Flying Club and said, “all of the homing pigeons are kept clean by washing daily and are banded and in a national database.” His plan was to train the birds to go up to 125 miles, although they can fly as far as 400 miles.

The request included having a white dove release business. It was noted that actually they are small female white pigeons, rather than doves.

Several neighbors were present to express their opinion. Darla Haydt said, “I have lived in my home on the same street for 40 years and feel that homing pigeons would decrease property values.”

Racing pigeons is a lucrative business, with birds selling for over $1,000 each. There are local, national and international races where the purse can be as much as $1 million.

The board denied the zoning appeal, stating that a hardship was not demonstrated. Graves noted that he will appeal the decision.