Monday evening Eric Adams, Project Manager for Collaboration Corvallis, presented a set of recommendations to the Collaboration Corvallis Steering Committee. Over the past several months three work groups, Neighborhood Livability, Neighborhood Planning, and Parking and Traffic have been meeting twice a month to work through concerns relative to the increase in student population at Oregon State University. Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning opened the meeting by stating that she wanted to express her appreciation to each of the work groups and to all those that gave their total commitment to this process. Oregon State University President Ed Ray also expressed his thanks to the work groups and also mentioned the newly created position of Economic Development Manager for Benton County and Corvallis. Ed Ray told those assembled that "I am an Economist" and look at this new position as a plus for our area. Ray also spoke of the type of businesses he thought would benefit Corvallis. Ray Stated he wanted "Businesses that relied on Intellect not Emissions."
Ed Ray also focused on the point that this "Collaboration Process is a three year commitment, we are only six months into it." Ed Ray advised those in attendance that the Oregon State Legislature has authorized construction of an additional dormitory on the Oregon State University Campus. The expected occupancy date for this new dormitory is Fall 2014.
Eric Adams presented an overview of each recommendation that was followed by additional comment from the three committee chairs, Dan Schwab, Patricia Daniels, and Steve Clark. The recommendations sent to the Steering Committee include:
Improve student integration and connections with neighborhood residents; encourage participation with neighborhood associations; decrease the amount of high risk drinking; decrease the amount of trash and junk.
Incorporate changes into the Corvallis land Development Code that will provide for a greater overall quality of life for residents and students. Change the number, (increase) of required parking places for future building.
Parking and traffic improvements include improving Corvallis Transit schedules and increased bus runs. Improve communication with students on current parking that goes underutilized. Fully fund an on campus bike share program.
These recommendations were adopted by the Steering Committee and will be forwarded on to the Corvallis City Council for action.
Per the summary submitted by Project Manager Eric Adams, "The near term strategies recommended to the Steering Committee by the work groups are intended to satisfy the Steering Committee's request for actionable items prior to the start of the 2012 Fall Term."
An off campus living guide, College Life Corvallis, is also being constructed to be shared with all Oregon State Students.
The next Collaboration Corvallis Steering Committee Meeting is scheduled sometime for early Fall 2012.
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