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> MSU Long Range Campus Development Plan

April 20, 2006 Public Forum Sessions

On April 20th, 2006, a series of three public forums were held presenting planning principles and goals. The first draft options and scenarios demonstrating how the campus could develop over the next 25 years were displayed and discussed. The following are the Governing Principles presented and comments gleaned from the question and comment section of these three forums

Governing Principles
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3

GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

Promote MSU’s commitment to a contemporary mission of the Land Grant Institution through the physical integration of teaching, research, and outreach.

Coordinate College and Departmental visions and physical developments with the strategic vision of the University.

Recognize the critical relationship of the physical environment to excellence in teaching, learning, research, public relations, and quality of life.

Develop the physical environment of the University through collaborative relationships with the larger community.

Build on our unique heritage, sense of place, and strategic vision of the future as a model of planning and design excellence.

Develop campus environment that enhances the personal experience of the University community through a spatial network which promotes human interaction.

Be exemplary stewards of our physical resources.

Continue a comprehensive approach to campus planning to guide the University’s future development.

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SESSION 1

Givens: Things we have to live with.

This is an evolving plan, slated for revision approximately every five (5) years.

Interfacing housing with commercial enterprises is very important.

Introduce a shuttle along Garfield to bring two sides of campus together.

Nineteenth is developing to be the main route into campus.

Day visitors need an established visitor center and parking.

Facilities: A small area now, but needs to grow. Move out of core and allow that space to be utilized for academics. This is a key space that may have better uses.

A Community "Outreach" concept on 19th is very good.

Bike/Pedestrian trails that connect to broader areas. This campus is too large to be a pedestrian only campus, especially south of 19th. Coordination with City/County is essential.

Housing projections differ from plan to plan, based on different assumptions. Gross square feet need to be analyzed.

Enrollment projections: Five year Vision - 14,000 traditional students within 3-4 years

Enrollment has shown a 3.11% growth in the last 20 years.

There was more growth on the campus during the 50-60-70's as college education was on the rise.

Married student housing fills a huge need for affordable housing within the community. Allows more people to go to school

Moving athletics would allow growth into an area that makes easy access for additional academics.

Housing demographics - These are being developed. Looking at age range/demand. Additional housing for researchers as numbers grow.

Nineteenth needs separate bike lane and pedestrian walk-way.

Nineteenth is scheduled to become a 4-lane with an additional turning lane.

Garfield needs to be made a Right-turn only onto Nineteenth.

Parking: Need to develop areas of growth and then determine where we are short of parking.

The success of the proposed transit system may influence possible need for additional parking.

Athletics: If they move practice fields, they will need to move enough facilities to make it worthwhile (i.e. locker rooms, coaches). Event days would remain on "Main Campus".

Requirements that take large amounts of space need to move to external edges of campus to allow core campus to be more dense and pedestrian friendly.

Undeveloped land to south. Land swaps might be an option for future campus growth.

Bozeman 2020 Plan/Transportation Plan /Parks & Planning - All are being redeveloped at this time.

Noise level from campus to surrounding neighborhoods needs to be considered.

Traffic flow/Bike & Pedestrian traffic: Need to look at impact on outlying community and how it relates to the community.

Amenities available to community. Be thoughtful about potential retail within developments. Do they actually SERVE the community/student housing. Determine needs of each group.

Athletics needs to move to edge of campus.

Keep it a walking campus.

Agriculture vs. housing:. Wheat fields or cows. See what Ag wants and then develop adjacent areas.

The face of Agriculture is changing nationwide

MSU controls BLM lands etc from Mount Ellis to the Fort Ellis Sheep Ranch. This area is not a portion of this development plan at this time.

Bike and Pedestrian traffic: Campus needs to be more bike friendly. Encouraging bikes can lessen needs for vehicular traffic and expensive parking solutions.

Install more bike racks.

Install Underpass/Overpass at Nineteenth.

Green space development: Include more native plants. Have a pesticide free policy.

Would like to see Mandeville Creek restored in conjunction with natural resources entities and Montana Fisheries.

Utilize and develop the streams through campus (4 west of Nineteenth)

Snow removal and melt. Need to look at current system. Does it cause problems, or help.

The emphasis on east-west bike/pedestrian green way connections are great to see. East-west connections are one of the greatest challenges community wide.

Have hand-outs of build-outs available at forums.

Post build-outs on the web prior to forums.

Post notices of forums at schools (Irving, Learning Circle Montessori, Child Development Center) for better attendance.

Facilities should grow in a different location so existing facilities area may be developed as an academic area/housing area.

Play fields and green space need to be conserved near housing areas.

All spaced and buildings near the core of campus should be available to all students. For example, a large athletic practice facility should not be close to campus, as only a fraction of student can use it.

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SESSION 2:

Campus consists of 952 acres and 4,110,00 gross square footage today.

Streams need to be preserved and built around.

Public interface where the public joins with the campus in a venue.

Outreach - area for campus to reach out to the community.

Consider motel/hotel as part of campus. Partnering with private entity for a high tech conference center - public interface.

Restore formal "archway" entry drive from Eighth to Eleventh. Mimic the old Cass Gilbert formal drive.

Eleventh is unlikely to be closed due to City influences. It is a major passageway through campus. Some want it to stay open. Some want to close it through campus. It could be a good transit system route into campus.

need to connect the different areas of campus.

Make campus distinctive, so you know when you leave residential and enter campus.

Take down Roskie.

Should SUB be moved to an entry of campus? Moving it from the edge/border of campus to what will likely be a more central area of campus in the future

Like: The green space corridor between future campus to west and current campus.

Parking Garages: Integrate first floor/ground floor into shops. This helps make a parking garage blend with the surroundings.

Build Sustainable: Let MSU become a leader in the western USA. A sense of place and culture as well as xeriscape.

Landscape for this environment to preserve water.

Art/Sculpture on campus and within buildings. Plan for the enjoyment of art.

Expose our students to as much cultural environs as possible. Small venue areas where small dramas, small speeches can be held. Exterior activities.

Watch where students gather and develop these spots as "Living Campus".

Interconnecting bike paths north to south with City bike paths/routes.

Central delivery area for campus. Eliminate most loading docks. Use smaller delivery units. Scheduling service at appropriate hours and parking in less space.

Land Grant Institute commitment to have an Ag outreach to community through arboretums, trails, demonstration farm.

With Nineteenth as a 4-lane a signature above grade walkway could be a good formal entry to campus.

North-South arterials are few, causing heavy traffic flow on those arteries. Get a good traffic engineer involved in the development plan.

Integrate housing and academics so people have less travel between home and class/research.

Economic analysis: How do leases to commercial benefit MSU.

Common lawn area. Multi-use areas. Festivals with booths and stages. Areas for ultimate Frisbee games, outdoor lecture venues, more benches and seating areas.

Increase interaction with research and academics, apply to design and execution of facilities.

Integrate campus expertise into development. Utilize Architecture and Engineering departments and their students.

New sustainable building designs need to be integrated through policy. What will out design requirements be?

Lead by example as we redevelop our campus. Raise the bar.

Housing density is yet unknown. Dependent on the type of housing. Retirement/single family/apartments/condos.

Precept studies will answer many of these questions. First define the "Big" picture (global concept) then as statistics help us, define needs which will develop or refine the "Big" picture.

This plan will define open space/green space and where academics, research and housing will develop. Exact "footprints" for buildings will not necessarily develop, but regions will be developed and defined.

What will the role of the University be regarding attainable, affordable Faculty housing. Likely necessary to continue to draw quality faculty and staff.

Partnership - Who are your neighbors? What are their interests?

A hotel is planned for inclusion in the new proposed Towne Center.

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SESSION 3:

Certain elements are important for a sense of place with respect to sacred areas, especially for alumni.

Good to see a strong green connection along Garfield joining campus, east to west.

How likely is it that MSU will have funding for major changes? Cash flow does need to be a concern, but we need to have a vision for the future that can be fluid. Revisited in 5 years and will be able to change with the needs of the future.

Develop a framework so buildings get built in the right places. Allows for development of our green spaces.

A campus plan is a tool which allows campuses to actively and easily fund raise.

Look into land swap options to help shape the campus to make it more workable.

Our land is a finite resource. Keep what we have. Don't sell off anymore.

Different possibilities are overwhelming. Seek guidance on what has been beneficial to other campuses. Concentrate on the development of bike and foot paths.

Post assumptions, givens and build-outs on web site.

Study other campuses to help us know where we should go.

The timeline for redevelopment of campus is not short, but will lead to a quality campus. It will be a legacy to our children and grandchildren.

Would older buildings go away, due to high cost of maintenance? Some should go away, while those that are historic should be maintained in character while upgrading.

Create a housing "horseshoe" to the west. Bring the alumni back into the fold.

Extend the core of campus to the west as illustrated in "Build-out B".

Eleventh street will be developed through to Goldenstein. How will MSU manage additional traffic. Will pedestrian traffic at 8-12-5 deter auto traffic, or do we need pedestrian bridges?

In "Build outs B and C" the green space connection is a strong element to the west.

Create a "Green Loop" east to west. A shuttle route is needed.

"Build out B" - No housing in Ag lands. Keep Ag component to the west.

Look at making a campus housing buffer between the Ag entities and possible high-end housing.

Neighborhoods can shut things down. Ag needs to look at what types of Ag will continue within the campus.

Move housing closer to theatres and current retail area on the south edge of campus.

Once we know where research/academic/housing will be, the development plan will include parking to be developed as well as building sites and walkways.

With the amount of undeveloped land, we should build a grand promenade which brings east and west together.

What will ensure a future Campus President will not deviate from the plan? Local residents and students or a governance board needs to be involved to steward the plan. There is a need to have a strong commitment to the plan.

Growth out is inevitable. What about UP, starting right now.

Why does MSU not plan for outside their current boundaries? Other developers do. Let the City know what MSU wants to see as far as development outside of Campus. Develop large green arteries that link up Campus and the City to develop merit..

Joint coordination between the Campus and the City. The whole environment will benefit form joint cooperation and dialogs.

Connect exterior bike trails North-South and East-West.

We need to be distinctive yet be integrated.

Many entrances, but need one Grand Entrance that distinguishes when you have arrived on Campus. A front door that celebrates our University.

Possible need a new Administration Building.

Assumption: Buildings will grow more than enrollment, as research will increase, requiring new housing, and square foot/student housing will increase.

SOB Barn is a sacred area. Need to think about what great thing we can use it for

Appreciate broader community being invited to be involved in this project.

Larger buildings should transition down to smaller buildings to help with the transition into the neighborhoods.

Sometimes buildings need TWO front doors so as not to turn our back on the local community.

This development plan is a form of "self zoning". However it must be remembered that it is a skeleton to define interstitial spaces.

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Governing Principles | Session 1| Session 2 | Session 3

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