Vaughn College plans a dorm

Community Board 3 approved an application for a variance by Vaughn College of Aeronautics for a 200-bed dormitory that the college hopes to complete by fall 2007. The dormitory would initially rise two stories in height, but the college plans to lay a very strong foundation to support additional stories and up to 100 more beds should the need arise.
“Enrollment has changed dramatically over the last 10 years, but especially over the last five years,” said Vaughn President Dr. John C. Fitzpatrick. “A residence hall is absolutely necessary for the college to remain a resource in Queens.”
With a current student population of about 1,200, Vaughn hopes to increase enrollment to about 1,350 by the time the dormitory would open. In addition, the college plans to expand its offerings - Vaughn is the newest college in the United States to offer a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and the college has applied to the Board of Education to receive accreditation to offer a master’s degree in aviation technology.
Based on an interest assessment study from the east coast of the country, analysts for the college said there was a high interest in aviation education - even recommending Vaughn to build a 400-bed dormitory.
At the public hearing before the variance’s approval, several community board members expressed approval for the dormitory but also questioned quality of life issues that would be affected by additional residents, including parking and noise.
The college is required by law to include 34 parking spaces in plans for the residence hall, but Vaughn said that it would restrict the number of students who were allowed to bring cars to campus. The college’s student life office also plans to institute behavioral policy for the students so that noise and neighborhood disruption do not become an issue.
By September 2007, the college also will complete a new student center, which will contain a library, cafeteria and 400-seat conference center that Vaughn officials said will be open to the public. The college is not required to obtain a variance for the student center, as the location is already on their property and follows zoning code for the area. For the dormitory, the college needed the Community Board’s approval for the dormitory before they could begin construction.
A separate issue brought up at the public hearing was the application by Vaughn College to close a portion of the Grand Central Parkway service road - also called Ditmars Boulevard. The college wants a 10-year lease of the four-block section - from 90th to 86th Streets - from the City’s Department of Public Transportation to create green space for the campus and as a security precaution.
Although the issue of the road closure will be delayed until later in the summer, several community board members expressed outrage at the suggestion.
“Don’t take away part of the history of this community,” said Michael Anthony Nardiello II, who instead suggested that the college fix up a park on 86th Street and Ditmars Boulevard.