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Academy On Move

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By B.C. MANION

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 25, 2008

LUTZ - After losing its bid for a special-use permit to operate its school on Livingston Avenue, Libertas Academy is relocating to Temple Terrace.

Libertas, which has 25 students, will begin the new school year on Aug. 20 at Center Point Community Church, 8610 Temple Terrace Highway, Principal Hannah Vickery said.

The school opened in August in space it rented from Calvary Chapel Tampa, 17538 Livingston Ave. The rent at its previous location became too expensive.

But Libertas needed a special-use permit to operate at Calvary, and Land Use Hearing Officer James Scarola turned down the request, citing insufficient site plans.

The school considered an appeal but dropped that and decided to relocate, Vickery said.

"We're moving on," she said, noting she would rather put her energy into the school's operations than into the appeal. She said her school is unique and is deliberately small to provide personalized instruction for children.

Robert Glenz of 2407 Regal Drive is delighted that the school is moving.

"We're really overjoyed," he said. "I'm pinching myself."

Glenz said if the school didn't move, he was planning to. He was one of several neighbors who testified against the school on Feb. 22 at its special use permit hearing.

Glenz said he enjoys children, but he couldn't tolerate the noise the Libertas students made when they were outdoors playing. The school disrupted the serene nature of the neighborhood, he said. Several other neighbors also objected to the school's request.

Planners from the county's Planning & Growth Management Department and from the Hillsborough Planning Commission also spoke against the school's request. They said the site plan lacked specificity.
Scarola concurred with the planners and rejected the school's request in March.
Vickery said she hopes she doesn't encounter problems at the school's new location.

It has the correct zoning, she said. But it needs to provide proof it can get water supplied from the city of Temple Terrace.

Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507 or bmanion@tampatrib.com.

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