Formal complaint filed over New College's development of Uplands Preserve

Environmentalists and former students of New College of Florida upset with tree removal in the Uplands Preserve have filed formal complaints with the State University System’s inspector general’s office.

Five identical complaints, filed by four former New College students and an environmental activist, charge New College President Richard Corcoran with violating the campus’ master plan and possibly violating local and federal laws, including unpermitted destruction of wetlands and disturbing endangered birds in the area, including bald eagles.

“This violation of the (master plan) process and damage to preserve land, which began on or around May 24, 2024, harms the integrity and reputation of New College,” the complaint reads.

"The current clearing and demolition activity are lacking proper oversight to ensure that the operation is in legal compliance and that sufficient mitigation occurs if harms cannot be avoided," the complaint states. "The more damage done, the higher the cost will be."

The group, as well as residents of the neighborhood next to the preserve, were stunned over Memorial Day weekend, when heavy machinery began knocking down 100-year-old pine trees on the preserve, strip of land along Sarasota Bay, running from the northern edge of the campus to the southern edge of the Powel Crosley Estate. 

Photo by Jim DeLa

New College is clearing the land to build beach volleyball courts and a practice soccer field for the school's fledgling athletics program.

The city of Sarasota issued a temporary order that weekend to stop the work because no permits were ever granted for the work, but it was ultimately determined that the preserve, on New College land, is state property and not subject to local tree ordinances.

The area currently being cleared is about 40% of the total preserve, according to Jono Miller, the former chair of the NCF Master Plan Committee.

Miller said when New College split from the University of South Florida years ago, the schools signed an agreement to preserve the land for "passive recreational purposes" that would not require development. 

People opposed to clearing the preserve were kicked out of a recent State University System Board of Governors meeting in Orlando last month when they disrupted the meeting after being denied the chance to speak on the issue during time for public comment.

The complaint also asks that the Board of Governors require the New College administration to “abide by its comprehensive plan and immediately stop all work that is violating the current CMP, and begin restoring the land that has been damaged,” it says.

Neither New College nor Board of Governors spokespersons responded to a request for comment on the complaint.