RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail Story
Residents opine on CSUB's growth plan
| Tuesday, Jul 31 2007 9:35 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Jul 31 2007 9:47 PM
People who've taken a look at Cal State Bakersfield's plan for growth are expressing concern about increased traffic and proposed public-private partnerships.
BAKERSFIELD.COM HOT TOPICS:
Loading Stories
Advertisement
Twelve public comments about the school's "master plan update" -- and responses from administrators -- appear in a new draft environmental impact report.
CSUB is preparing for projected enrollment growth of 7,000 full-time students now to 18,000 in about 20 years. Classroom and lab space, student services, athletic facilities and roads are among the construction to be required.
It's not too late to opine -- officials extended the comment period to 5 p.m. Aug.13.
These are some of the comments and responses already in:
n How will the existing street system accommodate more students, retail and commercial development plus a 4,500-seat minor league baseball stadium?
"I just see the impact on the area as huge, traffic-wise," Joan Herman, who has lived near Cal State for 21 years and commented on the plans said in an interview Tuesday. "It's absolutely a disaster. There is no way to mitigate it without adding lanes. I don't see where you can easily add lanes" along Stockdale Highway, Gosford Road or Camino Media..
The report says there will be "significant and unavoidable" traffic impacts on local streets. But Cal State's expansion isn't the sole contributor to more area traffic.
The university will pay for 34 percent of the needed improvements to Camino Media and Gosford Road and a lower amount for those at other roadways and intersections.
n Several letter writers were concerned about the public-private partnerships and how they would benefit students and the community. One suggested they have restaurants, stores and shops to which students could walk.
The report said the four- to six-story office building that received conceptual approval in 2006 would feature some retail, possibly a bank, copy center and limited food service.
Some writers had strong opinions about 24-story towers that were proposed, but those negotiations ended in mid-June. Besides the office building, a children's museum has received conceptual approval.
The report says the university will not approve projects that do not support Cal State's academic mission. It adds the public-private projects will have environmental reviews and an opportunity for comment.
n Why can't the baseball stadium be located off campus near better freeway access?
Being near a freeway would be more convenient for some spectators, the report says, but less convenient for the university baseball team and on-campus students who want to watch the team.
Cost is a factor, too. If the stadium were off campus, either the university or city of Bakersfield would probably have to buy the land for it.
Dale Lindsley, another resident near CSUB who opined, said Tuesday that he believes the expansion plans don't match the surrounding low-density residential neighborhood.
Because the campus is on state-owned land, he said, it's not subject to local ordinances.
"They can bypass the general plan, city building plans, etc., etc.," Lindsley said. "I don't think that's right. We have a way of life already. We're going to be subjected to more cars (and) noise."
But the report states the campus does have to follow the California Environmental Quality Act.
How to participate
The university has extended the comment period for its plan update in response to concerns it wasn’t long enough for full public participation. Here’s how you can read it:
At www.csub.edu. Click the “Environmental Impact Report” square. Then download the Administrative Draft of the Final Impact Report, which is 101 pages. You can also download the 600-plus page draft report.
Printed copies are at the circulation desk at the Walter W. Stiern Library and the office of Michael Neal, vice president for business and administrative services. This summer the library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Neal’s office, in administration building 103, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Here’s how you can comment:
The deadline to submit written comments by letter, fax or e-mail is 5 p.m. Aug. 13.
They must be hand-delivered or postmarked by that date to: Michael Neal, vice president for business and administrative services, California State
University, Bakersfield, 9001 Stockdale Highway, 38 ADM, Bakersfield, CA 93311. Neal’s office number is 654-2287,, his fax number is 654-6923.
His e-mail address is mneal@csub.edu.
Additional comments will go in the final impact report before it’s forwarded to the Cal State University system’s board of trustees. The trustees will discuss and vote on the plan at their Sept. 18 to 19 meeting in Long Beach.
The public may comment during trustee committee and full board meetings. To do so, people must send notice to the trustees’ secretary two working days before the committee or board meeting at which they’d like to speak and include their topic to: lhernandez@calstate.edu.
Mailed comments may be sent to Trustee Secretariat, Office of the Chancellor, 401 Golden Shore, Suite 136, Long Beach, CA 90802.