Winding up a three-year public planning process, UC Davis will submit its updated Long Range Development Plan and the plan's Environmental Impact Report to the UC Board of Regents Committee on Grounds and Buildings on Oct. 29 in Oakland and to the full board Nov. 19-20 in Los Angeles. Materials will be available for public review on Oct. 17.

The LRDP is a physical plan that looks ahead to the year 2015, establishing a growth pattern for the land and facilities needed to accommodate new students, faculty, staff and affiliated research activities on campus. The 2003 LRDP anticipates a student population of 30,000 on the Davis campus by 2015 (averaged over the fall, winter and spring quarters), compared to an expected average of just over 27,000 this year.

In addition to planning for substantial growth in the academic program, this LRDP includes proposals for a neighborhood master plan (a new community for students, faculty and staff on the campus west of Highway 113) and a research park immediately north and south of Interstate 80 at Old Davis Road. The LRPD's EIR also analyzes the potential environmental effects of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, a multi-use stadium, and new chilled water facilities for the campus cooling system.

The final EIR includes responses to all comments submitted during the May 5 to Aug. 5 public comment period, and any revisions to the proposed plans that resulted from those comments. The major revision to the plans that emerged from the EIR public comment period was a decision that the neighborhood master plan west of Highway 113 would proceed without a roadway connection to Russell Boulevard.

"The LRDP is a blueprint for the future growth of the campus," said John Meyer, vice chancellor for resource management and planning. "This plan is the culmination of three years of forecasting growth, analyzing alternatives, and actively engaging our many stakeholders. I am confident it will result in a positive, dynamic environment in support of our academic enterprise."

The final LRDP, neighborhood and research park master plans, and EIR will be available on Oct. 17 at the Yolo County Library on 14th Street in Davis, Shields Library on campus, the Office of Resource Management and Planning on the third floor of Mrak Hall on campus, the Dixon, Woodland and Vacaville public libraries, and on the Web at http://www.ormp.ucdavis.edu/environreview/lrdp.html.