LEWISTON – Supporters of the Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary might not have a visitor center yet, but they should have a parking lot by next fall.

Organizers have the go-ahead to begin work building a 45-space parking lot off Montello Street near the entrance to the bird sanctuary. They received approval for the lot and 3,900-square-foot building from the Lewiston Planning Board Monday night.

Work on the parking lot should begin next spring. Work on the visitors center won’t begin until members of the Stanton Bird Club have raised enough money to pay for it.

“We don’t even have a budget for the building yet,” said Michael Poulin, a member of the club managing the construction budget. So far, the group has raised roughly $241,000 out of $427,000.

“When we get farther along with the construction there, and we have a level of confidence in our fund-raising, we’ll come back with plans for the building,” Poulin said.

The visitors center is something Stanton Bird Club members have been trying to build for years. A 2001 plan for a parking lot and gift shop met stiff resistance from neighbors and supporters, and the club canceled its plans. Members spent the last three years working with neighbors to come up with something everyone will like.

“We did our homework this time,” said club member Tom Robustelli. The group met several times with club members and neighbors to design the project and going door-to-door in the neighborhood this fall.

“We have had numerous discussions with professionals, including engineers, architects and foresters, about how to minimize the environmental impact on the sanctuary,” he said. “The final proposal includes many of their ideas.”

The parking lot would be built first. It includes 23 paved or gravel parking spaces and another 22 grassy parking spaces. The new entrance would be about 200 feet south of the main trail and Highland Spring Road on Montello Street.

The spaces and the building would be connected by bridge walkway and a gravel access road. The plan calls for a 3,900 square-foot building with room for an office, meeting space, restrooms and basement storage.