Council Bill Could Put Cap on Dormitory Sizes

Universities in the city could have a harder time building dormitories for students, if the Department of City Planning heeds a call from some members of the City Council to end its practice of allowing universities to build dorms that are larger than normally allowed.

College dorms are currently considered community facilities, and therefore developers are given more leeway by the city when erecting the buildings. But opponents point out how they are inaccessible to community residents.

A council bill calling on the planning department to change its policy was introduced after St. John's University began building a dorm for 485 students in a residential neighborhood in Jamaica Estates, Queens. A council member of Queens, James Gennaro, introduced the bill.