Lafayette Presents Master Plan

At least three permanent street closures and the banning of motor vehicles from its campus are just part of plan for 'greening' institution, according to it's master plan, presented to Easton's planning commission Wednesday evening.

Though the plan was complete nearly two years ago, vice president Mitchell Wein said the college has been conservative with it's investments due to the economy. Instead of aiming for major construction projects, the college has concentrated on the rehab and reuse of underutilized buildings on the campus, he added.

The plan outlines a major renovation for the campus, and banning cars will 'increase its connectivity', according to the plan.

The plan does not necessarily follow any time frame, and the five phases of development the plan lays out could take decades, Wein told the commission. Much will depend on funding from donors and grant funding, which the college intends to pursue in partnership with the City of Easton, he added.

In answers to questions from commissioners about whether the plan could change, Weis said “It's a living document for sure, but mostly, it is following that.”

However, it will take years for Lafayette to fulfill its plans, he again noted.

“If it's in the plan, that doesn't mean it's coming forward today,” he said. The plan isn't a 'wish list', but “It's just simply a goal of something from a couple of years ago.”

Wein also said the college is not aiming to increase the student population from its current level of about 2,300 nor acquire new property, and the plan reflects that.

However, some commissioners questioned those assertions, along with the plan's inception.

Board member Robert Sun questioned the college's assertion that it would not be acquiring more property, and asked if the institution had been in talks with city officials about it's plan for street closures, noting that the college does not own the city streets that run through it's campus.

“Did you have any conversations with the city?” Sun asked Wein. “You've put a rendering (of a closed Hamilton Street turned into a campus quadrant) there. Is this to raise funds for donors or something to get the public used to the idea for when you make your move?”

Sun then posed a question to present city officials.

“Does the city have an institution or policy for buying a street? If I wanted to say, buy a street, could I?”

City planning director Becky Bradley said that “anyone can propose anything.”

Joel Scheer, solicitor for the city, said such a deal would ultimately have to be approved by city council.

“If the city street is surrounded on all sides, the city might consider abandoning the street,” Scheer opined. Such a deal would likely not involve anyone 'buying' the street, he said, but giving up it's claim to it, along with the responsibility for maintenance and snow removal.

“Then the city would lose it's right-of-way,” commented commissioner Ron Sherman.

Sun questioned if the college also has a master plan for parking, as the plan calls for cars to be eventually banned from the center of campus.

Wein said there were 1,397 parking spaces in 2007, and the college plans on expanding the number to 1,530 in 2012, if their plan is approved.

“We've added more because we've grown in people,” Wein said. It was unclear whether he referred to students, staff or both. “We would provide parking before a street closure. Parking must precede the loss of a street.”

It was not clear, however, whether Wein referred to lost campus parking or public parking. Current proposals that would eliminate some public street parking have not provided for its replacement to date.

Planning Commission Chairman Charles Elliot questioned the plan's benefit to and asked if the college had gathered any input from it's neighbors on it's intentions.

“The plan to externalize parking is good for Lafayette,” Elliot said, “but it may not be for residents.”

Wein said the college had talked with city officials and had reached out to some “community representatives,” but actual public meetings on the matter have not been held.

However, the plan falls within city zoning and planning guidelines, Wein said.

“Generally we know what the zoning ordinances are,” he said. “But there could be some that could make sense (to ask for a variance.)”

Elliot said this was contradictory.

“I think...there are some immediate conflicts,” he said. “You're already looking for a use variance, on the first proposal. And that troubles me.”

He said the college appeared to have gone forward with it's vision without input from city planners.

“I'm really puzzled why, when the relationship with the city has been so good, why you didn't talk with planning staff,” Elliot said, adding that residents and the general public should have also been able to give their opinions.

Bradley said the city's planning department has recently been in contact with the college on the matter of their first proposals—unused tennis courts that are to be turned into a 42-space parking lot, the closure of Pardee Drive to vehicular traffic and a new student housing unit planned for the corner of Cattell and March streets.

“We've been working a lot in the last week,” Bradley said. “I think we're getting to the point where we're beginning to get some information.”

“In broad brush terms, it looks like you are trying to stay away from those sorts of conflicts (with neighbors),” Elliot said, adding, “It would behoove the college to have those conversations rather sooner than later next time.”

The executive summary of Lafayette College's master plan, along with the complete reports and appendices are available online at: facilitiesplanning.lafayette.edu/campus-master-plan-2009