BREA

A local pigeon enthusiast was allowed this week to keep some of his birds, but about 45 of them will have to fly the coop.

The Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to let Andres Serrano keep 30 homing pigeons in his Chestnut Avenue backyard. The avid bird racer has been stoking the ire of his neighbors in his southwest Brea neighborhood since he started his pigeon hobby six months ago.

After an hour and a half of listening to accusations Tuesday, commissioners threw up their hands and voted for a compromise. Serrano could keep 30 pigeons, they said, provided he keep the food in a sealed metal bin that rats couldn’t gnaw.