UC Davis recently received unanimous approval for its long-term growth plan from the UC Regents Committee on Grounds and Buildings.

The committee, which met Oct. 24 in Oakland, has recommended that the full UC Board of Regents approve UC Davis' updated Long Range Development Plan and the plan's Environmental Impact Report when the board meets Nov. 19-20 in Los Angeles.

The final version of the document has been available for public review since Oct. 17. The plan accommodates 2.5 million square feet in new academic and administrative space, on-campus housing capacity for about 5,000 students, a research park, a new food and wine institute; and expansion of other campus facilities.

"It took many people, working together and committed, to shape the university's vision of growth as reflected in these documents," said John Meyer, vice chancellor for resource management and planning. "This growth program identifies the physical development needed to achieve our academic needs. The plan anticipates an exciting and growing future for our extraordinary faculty, students and staff."

The LRDP looks ahead to the year 2015, establishing a growth pattern for the land and facilities needed to accommodate new students, faculty, staff and research activities on campus. The 2003 LRDP anticipates a student population of 30,000 on the Davis campus by 2015 (averaged over the fall, winter and spring quarters), compared to an expected average of about 27,500 this year. Over the next 10 years, the UC system must accommodate more than 63,000 new UC-eligible students.

The final EIR includes responses to all comments submitted during the May 5 to Aug. 5 public comment period, and any revisions to the proposed plans that resulted from those comments. "We appreciate the time and effort that people took to learn more about and weigh in on these analyses," Meyer added.

The EIR public comment period resulted in campus planners deciding that the neighborhood master plan west of Highway 113 would proceed without a vehicular connection to Russell Boulevard. The neighborhood was also scaled back in size from its original estimate.

"The final plan represents a balancing of many competing needs both on campus and in the Davis community," said Bob Segar, assistant vice chancellor for campus planning.

Segar noted that during the last three years the university solicited extensive campus and community input in a number of ways, including public workshops, making the planning documents readily available to the public, and even extending the review period.

The major LRDP land-use initiatives approved Oct. 29 included:

• 2.5 million square feet in academic space;
• New building sites in the health sciences district for the School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine;
• A multi-use stadium;
• UC Davis Arboretum expansion;
• a new South Entry zone for academic buildings at the I-80/Old Davis Road entry to campus;
• The residential neighborhood;
• Expansion near the University Airport and Primate Center;
• The research park;
• Relocation for the equestrian center and research dairy; and
• Land set-aside for agricultural and habitat conservation at the Russell Ranch.

On Nov. 19-20, the Board of Regents will consider approval of the LRDP and EIR, as well as the approval of the master plans for the neighborhood and research park.

The Neighborhood Master Plan

Campus officials say the city of Davis' high housing prices and traditionally low vacancy rates are pricing students, faculty and staff out of the local housing market. The on-campus housing project -- with enough housing for 4,300 students, faculty and staff -- is intended to provide affordable apartments and low-cost homes with controlled appreciation. The 224-acre neighborhood will also include land for an education center in partnership with the Davis school district and the Los Rios Community College District.

"The campus and the local community both benefit when our students, faculty and staff live locally and have the opportunity to fully participate in the life of the campus," Meyer said.

Campus planners say the housing development planned south of Russell Boulevard and west of Highway 113 will fill a critical need for housing as the campus grows. This was the most controversial aspect of the LRDP, with some Davis residents arguing against the size and configuration of the new neighborhood.

Research Park

A 38-acre research park is designed to accommodate private, public and non-profit entities and enhance opportunities for collaborations in teaching and research. The project size is estimated at up to 480,000 gross-square feet with building capacity for up to 1,400 employees. The research park will be located on sites north and south of Interstate 80 and Old Davis Road, and at another location west of the University Airport.

The Robert Mondavi Institute

The Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science was also included in the EIR, but will move forward to the Board of Regents for design approval at a later date. Plans call for an academic building that includes classrooms, laboratories, offices and meeting rooms, and a food science laboratory. A new teaching and research winery is also planned. The Robert Mondavi Institute will be located on Old Davis Road just southwest of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

At its Nov. 19-20 meeting, the regents will also consider an approval of business terms for a proposed hotel and conference center at UC Davis. The university has entered into exclusive negotiations with the University Hospitality Group of Davis to finance, build, own and operate a conference center and 75-room hotel near the Interstate 80 entry to UC Davis, to the east of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

Over the next decade, UC Davis will see a total of $1 billion in new classrooms and lecture halls, research, laboratory, infrastructure and faculty and staff office space. The growth will encompass more than 50 new buildings, renovations and utility upgrades. Only about 30 percent of these projects will be financed by state funds, with the rest from a mix of private, research-related and student-support funds.

The LRDP and its EIR serve as umbrella documents for subsequent projects on the campus. Upcoming projects include the Robert Mondavi Institute, the multi-use stadium and chilled water facilities, among others.