City OKs development near St. Augustine High

City OKs development near St. Augustine High

By KATI BEXLEY
kati.bexley@staugustinerecord.com
Publication Date: 01/11/06

A development that includes 104 condominiums and 20,000 square feet of commercial space will be built near St. Augustine High School.

The Planned Unit Development, which the City Commission approved late Monday, also will include 13 units of affordable housing that will be less than $140,000, said attorney George McClure, representing property owner Robert Graubard of St. Augustine.

The vote was 4-1, with Mayor George Gardner dissenting.

The property is located on the west side of Lewis Speedway, near St. Augustine High School. The development will be called Whispering Creek Town Center.

Attorney Deborah Andrews spoke on behalf of the Mills family, who own 5 acres adjacent to the planned development, and who oppose it. Andrews said the city does not have an affordable housing program, and therefore the city shouldn't take on the responsibility overseeing it in the project.

"... The city will be taking on the (St. Johns) county program with no interlocal agreement to make them comply," Andrews said.

Commissioner Joe Boles said he "didn't have a problem with the county overseeing the affordable housing" in the city.

The PUD was originally approved in 1999 to be a 200,000 square-foot commerce center. In 2004, developers reapplied for a new PUD, which has not expired, McClure said.

The commissioners approved the PUD with conditions that include no archaeological site is disturbed, the city does not maintain the affordable housing and the city and developer have three years to decide on a plan for a public park that will be outside of the residential area.


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