FLAGLER COLLEGE -- In the words of Robber Baron Vanderbilt, "Let the public be damned" -- Project draws criticism

Project draws criticism

By ANTHONY DeMATTEO
Special to the Record
http://www.staugustine.com/stories/051809/news_051809_036.shtml

Members of the Flagler Model Land Neighborhood Association complained at their quarterly meeting Sunday that a proposed Flagler College building would be too tall and too close to to the curb line of Carrera Street.

The approximately 12,000-square-foot building at 15 Carrera St. is planned to house classrooms and faculty offices, according to Larry Weeks, Flagler's Director of Business Services and Campus Planning. He did not attend the meeting but spoke to The Record afterward.

The Flagler Model Land Neighborhood Association comprises home owners and merchants in the neighborhood near the college.

Association Vice President Bill Anderson said the building would be "right on" Carrera Street. Anderson said another problem is that the structure would be 42-feet high "all around," which he said is higher than nearby homes.

Art Boccieri, who lives next door to the proposed building, said at the meeting, that its construction would adversely affect his quality of life.

"The building is going to be 12 feet from our property line and it's going to be 40-feet high," Boccieri said. "We will lose any sun in our backyard."

Boccieri said the greatest impact on his property might result from its height, which he said is 10 feet taller than that of his house.

"We get a 40-foot wall with windows that are going to overlook our backyard," Boccieri said.

Weeks said the building's setback from the street adheres to city ordinances and is similar to that of neighboring homes.

"It's 25 feet from the right-of-way," Weeks said.

Association member James Banta said while the college is "one of the best things to ever happen to St. Augustine," school officials have been disingenuous through the years on plans to cap enrollment.

"I've heard them say they're going to cap the enrollment at 1,000 students," Banta said.

"I went to the meeting where they said they weren't going to be over 1,200 students, where they said they weren't going to be over 1,600 and then ... 2,000 students. We're at 2,400 and still going."

Banta said he thinks the college has no plans to cap enrollment.

"We want to be good neighbors with them," Banta said. "We don't want them to take over downtown St. Augustine."