Rockville Campus Expansion Task Force Meeting

February 21, 2007

Updates

Report from Bob Anastasi:

· Capital budget – has a big impact on the Task Force – if money doesn’t come through for building, the options we are discussing will be doubly important

· Parking options study – assigned parking lots for students would eliminate roaming

· He has communicated with Board of Education about Carver Center. He has met with Nancy Navarro, Dick Hawes, and has communicated with Dr. Weast’s office.

· The Task Force’s charge is to present options to the Board of Trustees (BOT), which has the final decision power. Encourage stronger community and student involvement and dialogue with BOT.

Task Force Campus Tour (report from Mr. Paul Browner):

· Small classrooms, small desks – crowded with no wiggle space

· Chemistry preparation area is very small

· Cafeteria is crowded

· Library – not enough space

Computer areas are fully utilized – no empty spots

· Student lounge – cramped and small

Input/contributions of Task Force non-attendees (Carolyn Terry):

· All members who were absent from January meeting were contacted for their input.

· Two members who had attended before but were absent from last meeting have submitted input.

· Some members have never attended.

Report on Executive Committee Meeting (Carolyn Terry):

· Reviewed the 7 options identified from first meeting

· Discussed each one and generated a list of questions to be answered

· Some remain unanswered

· College Plaza option – brought up at Executive Committee meeting

· Enrollment figures – spring 07 enrollment almost equal to fall 06. Age distribution charts were circulated.

Other:

· Mario Parcan – Rockville faculty – traffic report study suggested providing another access point on 355, encouraging carpooling.

· Reminder to submit biographical information.

· Another campus tour may be held in April for Task Force members.

· David Capp reported that a community forum will be held to review the design of the proposed Science building.

· Do we have statistics on the percent of students taking public transportation? David Capp reported that a survey will be conducted.

Draft Task Force report:

· Members are encouraged to mark up one copy and return to Carolyn.

· The report will be posted on the Task Force web site. Inputs and comments can be submitted through representatives or by using the suggestion box.

· The Executive Committee will discuss how Task Force membership will be listed on the final report.

· All options were reviewed, focusing on the questions remaining section of the Task Force draft report.

Other Factors to Consider

Delores Wallace reviewed the neighborhood list, which was created by a group of 10 neighborhood representatives. They believe that these factors support the campus in addition to being sensitive to the interest of the neighborhoods. This list will be combined with the Task Force’s original list, with special annotation for the neighborhood source.

Narrowing Options:

Option: Lease or buy nearby office space

· Ten offices can be relocated. No additional administrative functions can be relocated. Mannakee Building – ~ 40,000 square feet.

· This year Master Facilities Plan will be revisited and the use of the Mannakee Building for academic purposes will be re-examined.

· Can a structure be built to connect the main campus and the Mannakee Building? No, the woods are protected by the city government as the mandated green space.

Option: Jackson Place North and South

· Individual owners – 93

· Mr. Browner estimates market cost at $43 million.

· Existing buildings not useful for instructional use – rebuilding would be costly.

· Inexpensive lease cost will make relocation of business owners unlikely.

· Would have to go through condemnation process of Rockville City – political battle.

· Prices anticipated to rise following appraisal.

Option: Build up to code, build down sublevels

· Parking garage – costs 3 times more to build underground than to build on surface.

· Financial argument

o Who would fund a building with an underground garage?

o Zoning limitations for Rockville Campus: Campus is in residential zone.

o 4 stories is the limit.

o Beyond the limit will require a variance of the zoning requirement.

o Beyond 6 floors not suitable for instructional purpose.

Option: Carver Site (report by Janice Turpin, MCPS representative to Task Force)

· Highlight 2001 Carver Site Taskforce Report.

· MCPS focus on instructional needs.

· 193,000 square feet at Carver site.

· Cost to acquire land and build a new headquarters for MCPS is a major issue.

· Where to build it? On the current parking lot?

· How would zoning requirements impact the building space?

· Can MC retain the parking lot?

· The MCPS Board of Education will be unlikely to fund a new headquarters unless there is a push from MC to acquire the Carver site for its instructional needs.

· The East façade needs to be maintained.

Option: Share space with other institutions

· Dr. Edelstein reported that it may be possible to host classes at USG for those having articulation with USG.

· Only temporary – not a long-term situation.

· Fall 2016 – space is projected to be full at USG.

· What is the impact if Rockville offers more distance learning classes?

Option: Use Rockville athletic fields for building and transfer athletics to Germantown campus

· Rockville facilities currently used by approximately 15 sports, serving 400 students.

· Rockville Campus has the highest athletic participation.

· Enrollment at the Rockville campus helps support these sports programs – removing the facilities would eliminate the programs.

· Facilities also used by Richard Montgomery High School for soccer, tennis, lacrosse, baseball, and football.

· Facilities used for internal wellness program to serve faculty and staff.

· The athletic fields are not lighted and that prevents development of an intramural sports program.

Option: Expand off-campus parking and build on current lots

· This option addresses parking needs but does nothing to address space needs for academic purposes.

Option: Redevelop College Plaza

· List of issues distributed by Delores Wallace.

· Will the grocery store be retained?

Return to the Rockville Campus Expansion Task Force Hompage