The Problem

UWF has chosen the wrong route for a western exit and access to West Campus.

There is a better route.

UWF needs a west entrance and access to 647 acres of University property (called West Campus) north of Scenic Hills North and on both sides of Pate Road, the private road to the Gulf Power Crist Steam plant. The last Campus Master Plan (CMP 2006) proposes a Greenbrier Boulevard extension from campus for that purpose. Apparently the Greenbrier route was chosen for two reasons: 1) the close proximity of the eastern dead-end of Greenbrier to the University Loop Road, and 2) some disagreement with Gulf Power over using or crossing Pate Road. However, the choice of a Greenbrier route does not fulfill many of the published needs and desires expressed by the University in its own 2006 CMP.

There is a better route for this road. And the better route would better meet the needs and functionality of the university and the public for many years into the future.

The University of West Florida

Graphic Legend: Note West Campus, East Campus, Pate Road, and Greenbrier Boulevard.

Why is a Greenbrier Road the wrong choice?

• The Greenbrier Route does not maintain the “Campus in the Woods” culture, creates a disjointed campus, leads to security issues with two campuses a mile apart, and does not stimulate pedestrian or bike traffic which the university claims as objectives.
• Travel from Main Campus to West Campus would entail a trip of over a mile off campus for students, staff, and security. And this trip would pass 47 private driveways and 8 subdivision access roads along the way!
• This Greenbrier option includes 850 feet of bridging and 250 feet of causeway crossing three named streams for the Greenbrier extension. This is much more bridge and fill than other options.
• A Greenbrier Route will create a traffic bottle neck at Pate Road where the right-of-way narrows and is inadequate for the road width necessary on to Highway 29 a distance of 1.8 miles. (The right-of way from University Campus Loop Road to Pate Street on Greenbrier (1.6 miles) is adequate for up to a three lane road, but not beyond Pate Street.)
• Former Campus Master Plans had the athletic complex and football stadium in the West Campus with plenty of space for parking, stadium, and practice fields. The Greenbrier right-of-way problem west of Pate Street has caused the moving of the proposed stadium to the main campus with accompanying space restrictions.
• Avoiding the Greenbrier Sewage Pumping station is a bigger problem than Atkins Engineering advised. The Greenbrier Extension will need moved 50 or more feet to the south into wetlands that my private civil engineering consultant says will not be “fillable.”
• A Greenbrier route will require nearly two miles of access roads from Greenbrier into the West Campus.
• Greenbrier will be a natural short cut from Cantonment to Pace through campus (several miles shorter than Nine Mile Road). Short-cutting is very undesirable to the university and the neighborhoods.
• This choice does not fully meet any of the desires of the University. It is only a choice of expediency.

There is a better route for a western UWF exit and access to West Campus.

The 2001 Master Plan (now superseded by the 2006 plan) had proposed a direct and short connector between East and West Campuses across Thompson Creek. This is a better route. This route never leaves UWF property and connects the center of both campuses without loss of continuity. This access would keep the contiguous East and West Campuses fully connected geographically, physically, and psychologically. Just as a trip now from the President's office arrives at the Pace Library in 0.1 mile so would such a trip to the first buildings on West Campus.

Why is a direct route from East Campus to West Campus the right choice?

• A direct route from near Main Campus Building 10 (The President's Office) to the center of the West Campus is only about 0.5 miles.

• The bridge necessary only crosses Thompson Creek (not three separate creeks) requiring one causeway bridge of 290 feet length (at the 10 foot elevation level). This is the shortest bridging of all options .
• This option gives direct development property access by contiguously connecting East and West Campuses. Interaction between campuses, and Campus security and ability for lock-down would be enhanced not hindered.
• It greatly simplifies the wayfinding issues as travelers from East to West never leave campus.
• The new Campus Drive to West Campus would be a limited access road. There would be no private driveway or subdivision entrances, crossings, or hazards. No crosswalks, speed bumps, traffic lights, and minimal road signs would be required.  
• No separate access roads are required. Trolley, auto, bike or pedestrian access would be easy without leaving campus.

• If a connector to Highway 29 is desired, Kingsfield Road does not have any right-of-way bottle-neck issues such as exist on Greenbrier west of Pate Road.

The University had the managerial fortitude to halt the ill-fated bad idea of a Maritime Museum at the 11^th hour. It was not in the best interest of the University. The Greenbrier proposal deserves the same reconsideration in the best interest of the future of the University.

Click file tabs at the top of this page for additional information.

Introduction

The UWF owns 647 acres of undeveloped property (called the West Campus) west of the main East Campus of 1000 acres. This property encircles Scenic Hills North, lies north of Greenbrier Boulevard, and borders Pate Road.

Graphic Legend: East (Main) Campus in Yellow (1000 Acres). West Campus in Red (647 Acres). The white line on the left is Pate Road. The other white line is the Gulf Power transmission line. Scenic Hills North is the “bump” in the red outline.

About a third of the property lies west of Pate Road. The property is directly West of and contiguous with the East Campus along Thompson Stream and Thompson Bayou. The proposed future use of the West Campus has been referred to as a technical park and an industrial park but these terms have been dropped. The university has settled on the more generic and realistic term “development property” as acquiring technical or research tenants is highly competitive among universities.

The University of West Florida is required by state law to maintain a ten year Campus Master Plan (called the CMP)—the current plan is the 2006-16 CMP. The CMP must be updated every five years. Currently a 2011-21 CMP committee is in an early phase to update the plan. The 2006 Campus Master Plan (click the link) is available on-line and full plan documents are available at the John C. Pace Library at UWF.

These Campus Master Plans are the guiding force for future campus development. If a change in plans is to be made, it is through the Campus Master Plan.

Poor Infrastructure Choices Endure Forever.

A driving force for another Entrance and Access to UWF is acquisition of the contiguous West Campus and its future expansion, increasing enrollment, and upgrading athletics including adding football. All are expected to add traffic.

UWF wants another entrance for two reasons.

• Another entrance from the West or North which is the area of significant community growth potential.
• Access to West Campus and development property.

Poor Infrastructure Choices Endure Forever. Acquisition of the West Campus added 64% to the acreage of the UWF. This increase in physical size adds greatly to the economic potential and possibilities for expansion, increased service, and economic growth to the NWF area. Such additions also add responsibility and stewardship challenges to this beautiful, valuable, and profitable land. These opportunities must not be squandered by poor choices in accessing, modeling, arrangement, appearance, and functionality of the roads and property. The university and its infrastructure will endure. There is no room for poor planning choices.

Pate Road, off Greenbrier, is a 2.1 mile access road to the Gulf Power Crist Steam Plant, and is fully owned by Gulf Power Company.

Graphic Legend: Pate Road (the left white line) bisects the West Campus. Gulf Power has not agreed to allow access to West Campus.

This road runs directly through one third of the West Campus. There is a closed security gate at the 1.3 mile mark which is 0.8 miles from the plant. Pate Road to the security gate is open, but posted as private property. Gulf Power has not agreed to acess to property or to crossing Pate Road.   The county has reportedly offered to take over the road for maintenance and been refused. UWF has asked for rights to cross the road to access about one third of its development property to the west and been told to build a bridge or a tunnel. This can not be a security issue as The Crist Steam Plant Complex is only 1.3 miles from Kingsfield Road and 0.6 miles from the northern end of UWF Campus Drive. It is only 0.6 miles from UWF Building 10, the UWF President's Office.

Minutes of Campus Master Plan meetings do not discuss any formal meetings with Gulf Power on this very important issue and there is no mention of Eminent Domain proceedings.