Environmental Council
Minutes of April 27, 2006
4:30 pm, Rm l45, New Library
Submitted by J. Byrne
Present: Jack Byrne, Don Mitchell, Matt Landis, Diane Munroe, Brenda Ellis, Jon Warnow
Minutes of Previous Meeting
The minutes of the April 13 meeting were reviewed and approved subject to a vote at the next meeting since there was no quorum for this meeting.
College Lands Policy Draft
Council members made a thorough review of the current draft. Overall, the group felt the document strikes a good balance between being broad / comprehensive and overly specific / detailed. This is viewed as a policy that addresses the major areas of concern that the Council would have regarding decisions about acquisition of new lands or the sale of lands it owns. It provides a sufficient voice and clarity for the kinds of concerns the Environmental council. Several specific issues that have occurred in the past were mentioned and the question was asked how this policy would have played out in those cases (e.g., sale of the Rockefeller lands to the west of the campus, the Rt. 7 bypass proposal). Two issues that are not specifically mentioned in the draft that could be included are: the opportunity to create or support the development of more affordable housing; and 2) avoiding sprawl development. Matt and Diane will provide a final revision for vote at the May 4, 2006 meeting of the Environmental Council.
Strategic Visioning and Planning
Council members reviewed the work done to date and continued the process by developing a Context Map for the College (trends, uncertainties and other factors that are shaping the future); and a SPOT analysis of the Environmental Council (strengths, problems, opportunities and threats).
The results of those efforts are attached to these minutes.
The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.