Email sent to members of the Faculty Senate, 12 Apr 2004 [Note: Live links have been added to this email so that those reading it on the web can view supporting documents and images.]SW 24th Avenue: Senate votes on Thursday On March 18, the Faculty Senate received the Final Report of the SW 24th Avenue Focus Group. The summary paragraph of that report reads: “The SW 24th Avenue Focus Group concludes that the proposed road between SW 34th Street and Archer Road would create significant and detrimental academic impacts that cannot be fully mitigated. Even with mitigation, there would be a substantial and permanent net loss. The Focus Group was not able to obtain enough reliable information to assess benefits of the proposed road, nor was it charged with that task.” After the report was heard, an action item, to this effect, was approved for the April 15 meeting: “Based on the SW 24th Avenue Focus Group Final Report dated February 25, 2004, the Faculty Senate requests the Administration to formally drop consideration of a proposed amendment to the UF Campus Master Plan to accommodate transfer and/or dedication of right-of-way for the stated purpose of extending SW 24th Avenue from 34th Street to Archer Road.” The Focus Group Final Report, the minutes of their meetings, and a draft of the proposed amendment are at http://natl.ifas.ufl.edu/24thAve.htm#FGdocs. Before you vote on Thursday, the Natural Area Advisory Committee hopes you will become fully informed about the issues concerning the proposed donation of road right-of-way through the Natural Area Teaching Laboratory. To this end, we invite you to browse our recently reorganized website dealing with the controversy. A new feature of the site is a synopsis of the events leading to Thursday’s vote. Prior to the Senate meeting, you will receive these two additional email messages regarding the donation. On April 13: “Value of NATL to the University.” Sincerely, |