Swayed by a clamor of public support, the St. Augustine Planning and Zoning Board paved the way for St. Johns County’s only roller skating rink this week .
Ponce de le Rollin’ backers argued that local kids have few recreational options aside from organized sports and that the rink would help boost Anastasia Island’s commercial profile.
The board initially questioned the application at 201 Anastasia Blvd over a lack of parking.
But the building’s owner, Thomas Gangemi, skated back to the drawing board and secured agreements with other area businesses to make use of their parking lots.
That move — along with a wave of public support — produced a unanimous vote in favor of the rink.
“Their vision was to provide a family-friendly small youth skating rink where families and both area residents and visitors gather to enjoy a community-friendly skating experience just like many of us experienced in our youth,” project representative James Whitehouse of the St. Johns Law Group told the board Tuesday.
Some residents of nearby residential blocks opposed the project, arguing that a lack of onsite parking would compel patrons to park in front of their homes.
One speaker at Tuesday’s meeting speculated that buses carrying school kids to the facility could clog up local streets.
But Whitehouse said the agreements with local businesses to use their lots mitigate that risk.
Several speakers asserted that St. Augustine brims with adult recreational options, while kids have scant outlets.
One backer said the closest skating rink is 45 minutes away.
“I’m tired of driving to Jacksonville for everything,” she fumed in a written letter of support.
Adam Lind, owner of Old Town Connect transport, said youngsters were in dire need of local activities.
“We don’t have anything for our kids around here other than sports,” he said.
Prominent local chef Tyrone Bennett told the board that commercial hubs outside of downtown are deserving of heightened attention.
“Downtown businesses have been thriving on tourism and visitation,” he told the board. “That’s great. As we continue to move towards the future, I would like to see Anastasia Boulevard and West King get some of that economic impact as well.”
The board ultimately voted in favor of granting Ponce de le Rollin’ a zoning exception on the parking concern, and the project can move forward.
Their vote was met with a burst of applause.
