Neighbors to get say on UVSC plans
College officials agree and are actively involving the Southwest Alliance — an organization formed by residents living near and adjacent to UVSC — to find ways to accommodate an expected influx of 15,000 additional students over the next decade.
"Our students are our first priority, but we also understand that we are an impact upon our community," said Jim Michaelis, vice president for facilities and planning at UVSC.
"We're trying to look at that and find ways that we can lessen the impact on them."
On Wednesday, Michaelis, along with UVSC vice president of administration and external affairs Val Peterson, met with members of the Southwest Alliance, including Paul Wakefield.
Since UVSC unveiled three 10-year master plan proposals last month, Wakefield has been compiling feedback from residents on the alliance's Web site.
The possible plans all call for several new buildings, including a new athletic center, a performing arts center and a digital-learning center. Student accommodations like a parking complex and a northern extension of the college's main road are also proposed.
Wakefield said traffic congestion around the campus during peak hours is already a problem and a "limiting enrollment factor" for UVSC.
"There's lots of possible solutions to the traffic problem, but I think it's clear that the problems will be greatly increased if there are an additional 10,000 students," Wakefield said. "It's anyone's guess to how bad that would be. But, unfortunately, by the time it gets to that, it will be too late."
Of those surveyed by the Southwest Alliance, 69 percent favored the addition of an 800 South interchange on I-15 to help alleviate congestion on University Parkway and roads north of campus.
They also strongly recommended that UVSC install 60-foot landscaped berms to separate local homes from the main campus road, rather than the 10-foot berm suggested in the master plan proposals.
Wakefield believes the final width will probably lie somewhere in the middle.
"Nobody is going to like the solution because it's a compromise," Wakefield said. "Our goal is to clear up the unknown. It's the fear of the unknown that creates strained relationships."
Michaelis said that nothing has been decided yet, but that UVSC will use the alliance's finding to draft a new master plan proposal to be presented in March.
At that time, the alliance will conduct another online survey, Wakefield said.
Though students will be the ultimate beneficiaries of UVSC's expansion, Orem resident Dave Washburn said it's the outlying community that will have to live with the changes, good or bad.
"We love students and we all have students in our own families, but UVSC is a bus stop along the highway of life," he pointed out. "Students are not expected to be here forever. So while they have an interest, it's transitional in nature. Whereas individuals who live and reside here and own homes are much like the roadways being contemplated — they are perpetual."
E-mail: lwarner@desnews.com
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