| |
| Queen
Anne's area near Wye Mills cited as area of future growth |
| By: TOM MARTIN,
Business Ledger Editor |
February
13, 2001 |
|
| CENTREVILLE
- Wye Mills, the location of Chesapeake College, could be considered a
future growth area for Queen Anne's County. |
Although
this was the consensus of college officials and the Queen Anne's County
Planning Commission, there may be no formal action on this concept for
several years.
"Obviously
this should be a growth area," said Chesapeake College President Dr. Stuart
Bounds in response to comments from planning commission member Karen Oertel,
who has supported such a notion in the past.
"The
college will be a tremendous player in 'New Economy' growth," said Oertel,
a former chamber of commerce president who remains active in regional economic
development initiatives. "We should be looking at a growth area in five
years or maybe seven to eight years," she said.
The
college, which will begin a period of expansion this year - including the
largest structure ever built on the campus - and the U.S. Route 50-State
Route 213 intersection are in Queen Anne's County, but the historic village
of Wye Mills is in Talbot County.
While
the question of collaboration between the two counties on this concept
was not addressed at the regular February planning commission meeting,
college officials and the planners analyzed growth issues in this region
where U.S. 50 makes a final curve southward.
"Technology
has changed your course," said commission chairman James Foor to Bounds,
"so now we have to make sure that the Comprehensive Plan sees this as an
emerging area."
While
Foor was referring directly to the impact of the information-based "New
Economy," a key factor for a possible growth area is a sewage wastewater
plant that serves the college campus. "Smart Growth" concepts that are
now state policy say that growth areas should be centered on existing public
water and sewer systems.
While
the college embarks on its most ambitious expansion on campus, Bounds sees
a "broader vision" for this region.
For
Bounds, the first step in this "broader vision" is the beginning of construction
of the 49,000 square-foot Learning Resource Center this month and the 29,000
square-foot Higher Education Learning Center in 2002.
As
the largest building on campus, Bounds said the LRC and the current Center
for the Performing Arts will be campus landmarks that will be "some impressive
view" from U.S. Route 50.
The
LRC will be a "smart building," fully wired for the information age. "It
will be open to students and the general public," he said of anticipated
demand for such a facility. He also pointed out that it will also be placed
for "group learning," where interaction among students and faculty is encouraged.
The
Higher Education Learning Center on the Wye Mills campus will offer students
an opportunity to complete four-year degree programs offered by Washington
College, Salisbury State University and the University of Maryland-Eastern
Shore.
The
Learning Center construction project will include a new west campus entrance
on State Route 662, a new parking area and a new water tower, according
to Monty Garrettson, director of facilities for the college.
He
said the wastewater treatment plant can handle the additional volume that
will result from the two new facilities, and that its capacity could be
doubled to handle any future demands from the campus.
The
Higher Learning Center will be the first building outside of the original
traffic circle that is the current boundary for campus facilities and activities.
Another
near-term expansion considered by the college, according to Bounds, will
be new facilities for conferences and groups that meet at the Center for
the Performing Arts. "When we built the center, we really didn't plan for
this," he said of what he regards as a new challenge for the college.
In
addition to many events that are regionally based, he and Dr. Barbara Houchen,
vice president for administrative services, said there is increasing interest
from statewide groups in both public and private sectors from the western
shore. They also pointed out that such events also produce more traffic
at times when day and night classes are in session.
The
"broader vision" for this microregion referred to by Dr. Bounds, which
could be spurred by highway improvements and broad-band Internet connectivity,
could include a technology research business park, housing for students
on campus as well as other residential and commercial development.
Bounds
said using a college campus as the hub for a research park is a "model
that is seen throughout the U.S." On-campus housing will become necessary
not only with a more diverse student body in general, but for those that
will be attracted by the Higher Learning Center.
Bounds
also noted that one new major neighborhood within sight of the campus is
under construction in Queen Anne's County (Wye Knot Farms), and another
was recently approved in Talbot County. "And I have talked with other developers
over the years," he said.
Future
transportation improvements include full interchanges on U.S. 50 at State
Route 213 adjacent to the campus and at State Route 404 east of Wye Mills.
Bounds said the new western campus entry on State Route 662 will be part
of new traffic routing plan intended to reduce pressure on the U.S. 50-State
213 intersection.
Bounds
and Houchen said the campus is also becoming a center for recreational
uses by the community in general. As an example they pointed out that the
college's indoor aquatic center is mostly used for public programs sponsored
by local communities on the Mid-Shore.
Houchen
also noted that there is increasing collaboration with business, cultural
and educational communities on the Eastern Shore that will bring more activity
to the campus itself. These range from personal enrichment classes to contract
training for specific corporations.
While
consideration of Wye Mills as a future growth area will be mentioned in
the county's current Comprehensive Plan Update, Bounds said the college's
current Strategic Plan is due for revision in 2001-2003.
Ground
breaking for the RLC is scheduled for Feb. 16 at 3 p.m., with completion
seen in the spring of 2002. The Higher Education Learning Center is still
in the design stage, and should go out to bid later this year, with opening
seen in the fall-winter of 2002. |
| ©The
Star Democrat 2001 |
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