View Bill 21-22-12
Senate Bill 21-22-12
| Bill ID: | 21-22-12 |
| Name: | Review of the Western Gateway Development of Guilford Woods |
| Proposed: | 09/10/2021 |
| Sponsor: | Senators Ross Salawitch, Robert Sprinkle, Jing Lin, Mark Hill, Quentin Gaudry, and Mansoor Moaddel |
| Proposal: | Understanding the impact on educational opportunities, biodiversity, public health, and the campus climate action plan of the proposed Western Gateway development of Guilford Woods. We would like to see a Task Force convened to advise the Senate on: 1) Impacts of the Western Gateway project on: • Ecological loss of local biodiversity • Exacerbation of the urban heat island effect on our campus due to loss of 28% of forested area on campus (blue area in the map below) • On-going educational activities • Campus commitment to climate neutrality, sustainability, and environmental stewardship • Storm water management on our campus and surrounding communities 2) Other sites that could be developed to provide ample, affordable, on-campus graduate student housing that would be aligned with campus sustainability and carbon neutrality goals. During the 7 Oct 2021 Senate meeting, have: 1) 15 minute presentation on the Western Gateway project by campus advocates and the developer, Gilbane https://adminvp.umd.edu/current-projects/western-gateway 2) 15 minute presentation on the Western Gateway project by Faculty members who are part of the Save Guilford Woods community group https://saveguilfordwoods.wordpress.com/ 3) 10 minute question and answer period 4) consideration of a motion to: Convene a Task Force (simple up or down vote) prior to the 10 Nov 2021 Senate meeting that will be charged with: Conducting an independent assessment and report to the Senate at a meeting during Spring 2022 on: 1) Impacts of the Western Gateway project on: • Ecological loss of local biodiversity • Urban heat island effect due to loss of forested area on campus • On-going educational activities • Campus commitment to climate neutrality, sustainability, and environmental stewardship • Storm water management on our campus and surrounding communities 2) Assessing other potential sites on campus that could be developed to expand on graduate student housing that would have minimal impacts on: • loss of biodiversity • urban heat island • on-going educational activities • campus carbon footprint • storm water management and report back to the Full Senate during the Spring 2022 Semester. Membership of the Task Force shall consist of only current employees or students of the University of Maryland, College Park, with expertise in the areas of biodiversity; urban heat island effect; public health; outdoor educational activities, greenhouse gas emissions, hydrology, or urban planning. Potential members would be reviewed for approval by the Full Senate, at the 10 Nov 2021 meeting. The Task Force shall be chaired by an active Senator, to be selected by the Senate Chair in consultation with the Senate Executive Committee. Once the chair has been selected, this person will work with Senate Staff to seek volunteers to serve on the Task Force with expertise in the above mentioned six areas of study, as well as at least three graduate students from different campus colleges. Ideally, the Task Force will consist of a near equal number of active Senators and nonSenators and the Task Force will work together to provide a presentation as well as a written summary of their findings to the Full Senate sometime during the Spring 2022 semester. We would like to see development of ample, affordable, on-campus graduate student housing in a manner that adheres to the campus sustainability, environmental stewardship, and carbon neutrality goals. |
| Active? | No |
Status
| Status: | Completed |
| Completed On: | 09/27/2021 |
History
| Reviewed By: | Proposers |
| Received: | 09/27/2021 |
| Decision Date: | 09/27/2021 |
| Decision: | The proposer received a letter from the SEC explaining its decision not to charge a committee with reviewing the proposal. |
| Related Files: |
| Reviewed By: | Senate Executive Committee (SEC) |
| Received: | 09/15/2021 |
| Decision Date: | 09/20/2021 |
| Decision: | The SEC voted that no further action should be taken on the proposal by the Senate. |
| Actions: | The SEC will provide a formal response regarding its decision to the proposers. |
| Next Step: | Proposer Review |
| Related Files: |