February 2, 2004
UCSC to hold public hearing on draft EIR for
long-term development of Long Marine Laboratory, adjoining property
By Jim Burns
UCSC will hold a public meeting on February 19 to receive comments
on a draft Environmental Impact Report that has been prepared related
to future development at Long Marine Laboratory and adjoining property.
A UCSC planning committee, which includes representatives
of the city of Santa Cruz and staff from the California Coastal
Commission, has been working since fall 1999 to develop plans
for the Marine Science Campus.
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The meeting will take place at the laboratory, from 6 to 8 p.m. in
the Seymour Marine Discovery Center's La Feliz Room.
The draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) examines the environmental
effects of a Coastal Long Range Development Plan that UCSC has prepared
for 98 acres known as the UCSC Marine Science Campus. The property includes
the site of Long Marine Lab and 55 acres acquired by UCSC in 1999.
The Coastal Long Range Development Plan (CLRDP), guiding the property's
physical development for the next 20 years, includes the construction
of new buildings, roads, parking lots, public-access routes and overlooks,
infrastructure systems, and short-term and overnight housing that will
support the Marine Science Campus's programs. The CLRDP also describes
the protection and enhancement of the site's natural resources.
In addition to examining the environmental effects of the CLRDP itself,
the draft EIR considers the impacts of five near-term projects included
within the long-range plan:
Phase two of the Center for Ocean Health project;
The United States Geological Survey's Western Coastal and Marine
Geology facility;
The Sea Otter Research and Conservation Center;
A Shared Campus Warehouse and Laydown Facility, which would
provide space for workers to outfit and maintain research vessels, as
well as storage space for boats;
42 apartment/townhouse units.
A UCSC planning committee, which includes representatives of the city
of Santa Cruz and staff from the California Coastal Commission, has
been working since fall 1999 to develop plans for the Marine Science
Campus.
The university hired a consulting team--EHDD Architecture, a San Francisco
firm that developed the original Long Marine Lab Master Plan over 20
years ago and also designed the Monterey Bay Aquarium; and BMS Design
Group, also from San Francisco--to prepare the CLRDP for the site.
The following summarizes planning milestones for the project:
December 1999--the committee adopted a set of planning principles
for developing the site as a marine research and education center that
were presented to the public at an open house.
June 2000--At the second public meeting, the consultants and
the planning committee presented the input they had received from the
focus groups. In addition, consultants unveiled six different schematics,
showing how the site might be developed as a marine research and education
center.
October 2000--At the third public meeting, three site concepts
were presented and discussed.
December 2000--The expansion of Long Marine Lab was discussed
at a meeting of the Coastal Commission in San Francisco. Commissioners
at that meeting asked UCSC staff and consultants to reexamine the boundaries
of a seasonal pond and the drainage areas that make up the wetlands
on the site.
July 2001--The results of that wetlands review were discussed
at a fourth workshop. A revised site plan was also presented, reflecting
past discussions about incorporating research and educational facilities
on the site, preserving open space on the site, and providing housing
that would support the needs of the marine programs there.
August 2002--A preliminary draft of the CLRDP was completed
and discussed by UCSC staff and project consultants at a fifth public
workshop.
The current CLRDP contains text and map changes that respond to comments
made by reviewers of that earlier document. The CLRDP also incorporates
the recently completed work that further delineates wetland and environmentally
sensitive habitat areas for the Marine Science Campus.
The CLRDP and draft EIR are available for review at UCSC's McHenry
and Science & Engineering Libraries and the main branch of the Santa
Cruz Public Library. Paper copies may be purchased from Kinko's at 105
Laurel Street in Santa Cruz for the cost of duplication. CD copies are
available free of charge from UCSC's Environmental Assessment Group
(EAG) at 515 Swift Street in Santa Cruz. The CLRDP, the draft EIR, maps
of the site, and additional information are also available online at:
www2.ucsc.edu/ppc/planning/lml.html.
At the February 19 hearing, members of the public will be invited to
give oral comments on the draft EIR. Written comments may also be submitted
during the comment period, which ends on March 19. Written comments
should be sent to UCSC's Environmental Assessment Group, 515 Swift Street,
Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Questions may also be directed to the EAG at (831) 460-3570.
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