M e e t i n g     N o t e s     

Meeting Subject:                  Campus and Community Open House #2   

Location:                              UNLV Foundation Building

Meeting Date / Time:            June 12, 2002 / 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.                                                 

Issue Date:                           September 30, 2002

Prepared By:                        SmithGroup JJR

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this meeting was to introduce the Preliminary Campus Master Plan to the UNLV students, faculty, staff, and to the greater Las Vegas community.  This open house had two parts.  The first part was a formal presentation of the process, history, and major components/objectives of the plan.  The second part was a question and answer session.  The plan engendered wide support and generated exciting ideas, issues, and questions.  The following text summarizes the comments that were recorded during these sessions.

·         How serious is the university about bringing the monorail on to campus?  University representatives indicated that the proposed corridor (on the Preliminary Framework Plan) is a priority project.  The corridor is currently being considered by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) for a  Phase I Environmental Assessment study.

·         A general concern was raised about the monorail capacity and potential inability to accommodate additional student trips.  Is this system a viable solution for getting students to and from campus?  The consultant team does not yet have the trip data (number of people per hour per day).  That information is currently being generated by the RTC.

·         What is the cost of the monorail per student?  The university and consultant team acknowledged that this information is not available yet, and control of this issue is beyond the scope of the master plan.

·         Several members of the audience praised the monorail concept and its potential for outstanding visibility for UNLV.

·         What are the plans for the northeast corner of campus, and can the apartment/housing stock be utilized?  The University of Southern California was cited as an example of successful integration.  The consultant team acknowledged the USC housing example and explained that the scope of the mater plan is focused toward a major goal:  define the carrying capacity of the existing land holdings and understand what obstacles (both on and off site) affect that goal.  The consultant team is working with the UNLV Administration to define priority acquisition.

·         At 6.5-7.0 million gross square feet (GSF) of potential buildings, how does UNLV compare to its peer group?  The consultant team cited several existing peer groups and several target peer institutions.  The Preliminary Campus Master Plan suggest growth/development characteristics similar to UNLV's target, research intensive, residential, top tier academic institutions.

·         How does UNLV compare to other institutions for car parking and storage fees?  The consultant team indicated that parking is currently an inexpensive luxury on campus (both in quantity of spaces per student ratio and annual parking costs).

·         A general suggestion was made to introduce free bus passes to encourage an increased "ride share" program.  Other institutions in the U.S. have introduced such systems with success.  A follow-up suggestion inquired about the opportunity to develop a shuttle to bring faculty and staff (from points in the Las Vegas Valley) to campus daily.

·         Does the Preliminary Campus Master Plan GSF calculations account for demolished buildings?  Yes, in very general terms, but the calculations need to be updated.  To date, approximations have been made that need further refinement.

·         Is there an opportunity to do a land-swap with BLM to build a parking deck and bridge to main campus?

·         UNLV needs to be more urban.  A suggestion was made to get statistical data on students, families, and their work (careers), and apply this to campus development.

·         Maryland Parkway has great potential.  The Preliminary Campus Master Plan should address getting people across this corridor.  It was agreed that this is an important link to the community and a safety issue that needs to be studied in Phase II.

·         Has consideration been given to campus façade upgrades?  The university acknowledged the need for these improvements and cited the current capital improvement listing.

·         How are the airport runway boundaries influencing campus?  The consultant team responded:  The McCarran International Airport has noise (decibel contour) restrictions, progressive height restrictions, and general land use restrictions that affect the west and southwest portions of campus and adjacent parcels.  These areas have limited building opportunities, height constraints, and land use limitations.  As indicated on the plan, most of the campus' newer development will be positioned outside of these sensitive areas.

·         There is a disparity between the proposed parking supply and the parking displacement with an increased campus population.  It was mentioned that not enough parking is being "put back."  Several solutions discussed by the audience include:  below-grade parking, shuttles from the airport to the campus, a mental shift away from single occupancy vehicles, etc.  The consultant team agreed that the parking need has not yet (likely) been met.  The Phase II parking and utilization study will determine the number of parking space deficiencies and potential solutions

·         A general comment was made about the FDH building.  It was mentioned that this facility is the "ugliest building" on campus and an unfortunate "face of the university" (by location and height).  It was further suggested that the FDH building be demolished and replaced with an asbestos-free facility with bigger classroom spaces.  University representatives detailed funding expenditures and a tight fiscal situation.  Priorities of need are currently being developed.

Respectfully submitted by:

SmithGroup JJR

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