A controversial plan to add more parking in St. Augustine faces it's last hurdle Thursday.
The historic architectural review board will make the final decision later Thursday regarding whether or not historic land will be rezoned to allow for a parking lot to be built near the planned San Marco hotel on West Castillo Drive.
St. Augustine city leaders already approved the changes, so now people are waiting to see if the board will decide whether to grant a certificate of appropriateness.
Right now, Barnacle Bills and a parking lot sit on the land but if the board approves the plan, hotel developers will use the space for additional underground and surface parking.
Parking is a hot top for the historic city that draws in many tourists and visitors and opinions are varied.
"This idea of rezoning and the scale of this hotel de-prioritizes quality of living," said neighbor Herrick Smith.
"We’re all about trying to make St. Augustine better. It’s better," said neighbor Lura Readle-Scarpitti.
Developers say the zoning change would allow their parking to increase from 114 parking spots to potentially around 160.
Cox Media Group
