Planning the Physical Development of Carleton College
David Hunzicker, Melissa Keevil, and Ben Lum
Introduction
Purpose:
The goal of this project was to investigate the current and historic land-use at Carleton College. We hope that this information will enable Carleton to make environmentally sound developments in the future.
Methods:
• archive research, including maps and books
• interviews with current staff involved in land-use at Carleton
Richard Strong, Director of Facilities
Dennis Easley, Superintendent of Grounds
Mark Govoni, Dean of Students
• web sites of peer colleges
• sustainability web sites
Data and Analysis
Historical Planning Processes
"One of the first responsibilities of a college is to look like a college" President Cowling
The growth of Carleton College over the last 134 years has been a story of improvement and expansion restrained by a consistent desire to preserve the historical identity and dignity of the campus. Throughout most of it's history, the primary motivating factors behind new construction has been to enhance the educational potential of the institution, and to maintain the aesthetic ideal of what a college should look like. Until recently, environmental considerations have had very little impact in the decision making process.
Current Planning Process
Currently, the planning process for developing the physical environment of the Carleton campus is very amorphous. Some projects develop out of a ten-year plan, such as those proposed by the "Navigating the Nineties" and "Twenty-First Century" committees. These committees form a list of priorities to improve the physical college, either through new developments or through capital renewal (renovation). Administrative committees, especially the Budget and Planning Committee, formulate project proposals from this priority list or from "perceived" needs on campus. The trustees of the college must approve each major project, and they do so by determining how the development will better fit the needs of the college. The director of facilities, Richard Strong, reviews the proposed project. He happens to be a proponent of sustainable development, so he utilizes the Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide in evaluating and shaping project design. Any parts of the plan that could be built using more sustainable practicies are brought before the Environmental Advisory Committee. This committee advises the vice president/treasurer of the college, but most input is directed at the director of facilities, who sits on the committee and works under the vice-president/treasurer. For some major projects, an environmental consulting firm is used in the design process.
During the planning process, there is no individual nor group responsible for researching sustainable development practices and their feasiblity. Additionally, there is no long-range plan for the campus. While the current planning process is a model of flexibility, it allows long-range goals, sustainability, and the values and needs of several constituents to fall through the cracks during planning. These issues are not explicitly addressed, and these oversights may jeopardize the ability of the physical campus to BEST serve the needs of the college.
Recommendations
A potential solution to these planning and development problems is to create a structure that will provide long-term management of Carleton's land resources. This plan should be built around a long-term vision of Carleton's environment and include a protocol to direct developments that will accomodate future needs. A possible structure for such a plan should include not only a protocol, but also division of land into different zones which can be managed according to their greatest value to the college.
Long Term Plan
Carleton College must create, through its existing values such as the environmental mission statement, a long-term plan to guide the future development of land. This important task will require both a deep understanding of Carleton's history and character and the specific knowledge of a professional environmental advisor. An overarching plan is necessary to unite the various needs that will arise throughout the future decades. This large scale plan will provide guidance for individual projects, such that the greater vision is not overlooked.
Project Protocol
As needs for further development arise, the values of the community members must be formally evaluated, as well as the environmental impact. Considering that the college already utilizes the Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide in constructing new buildings, similar values should be more broadly applied to overall land use. While these ideals are already considered in the thought process that goes into planning, they must be formally considered to ensure that our development accurately reflects our ethics. A system of check-offs must be created in order to bring environmental values to the forefront. Planners should formally address each criterium to ensure that the overall plan is being met and that it is environmentally sound.
Zoning
Carleton's land serves a variety of needs. Every corner of campus, from parking lots to wetlands, satisfies a multitude of needs. These needs arise from a collection of invested parties, including students, trustees, alumni, prospective students, the City of Northfield, faculty, and staff. In order to meet the needs and desires of these stakeholders, we suggest using college land in a manner that maximizes the value of each portion of college-owned land. This could be accomplished by dividing the college's land into several zones and designing the management of each zone on an individual basis. Zones on the main campus might include: academic areas, residential areas, recreational areas, and undeveloped public spaces. Other zones could be: farmland, arboretum, and off-campus housing.
The different perspectives of stakeholders should be taken into account in the management plan of each zone. Each zone should be developed according to designated needs and values in order to maximize its value to the college. This approach would ensure that the entire value of each parcel of land is recognized before alterations occur.
Environmental Advisor
As environmental technologies advance rapidly, substantial research is required to assess all valid development options. For example, there are many alternatives to asphalt, some of which can reduce runoff. Recently, with regards to the townhouse parking lot next to the Cannon river, the idea of using alternative surfacing was addressed only after a student group raised the issue. Even then, only one alternative surface was investigated, and it will not be used due to its price. Neither students nor current staff have the time nor resources to adequately understand the variety of technologies available. Often this means that proposed solutions are financially infeasible, simply because not all avenues have be explored. It thus seems appropriate that Carleton hire a full-time staff member to organize and present options to maximize the college's sustainability. Such a position would enable the current values within the college to be realized.
Conclusions
It is the duty of Carleton College to provide an educational model in all aspects of its environment. Through implementation of a plan such as this, the college will be improved in several important ways. Careful land use planning is more critical as urbanization increases. An adaptive approach will help students to address similar problems beyond the Carleton community. In these times of growing awareness of environmental degradation, it is imperative for Carleton to provide a model for students and peer institutions. In fact, other schools such as Middlebury and Williams have already made significant advances in sustainable land use planning, and it would be to Carleton's advantage to evaluate these similar cases and make improvments where possible to attain even greater distinction as an environmentally friendly, forward looking institution. Carleton was recently ranked the 11th greenest campus in the nation, and in order to continue our leadership in the academic comminity we must continue to strive toward environmental excellence. In an atmosphere that already fosters environmental thought, it is of critical concern to realize these ethics in Carleton's decisions regarding land use. Good intentions are a first step in improvement, but true progress is made through having a formal system in place to enact change. Embedded in all of these factors, the underlying motive of environmental stewardship remains the primary goal.
References and Links
University of Oregon's Developent Plan
Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide