UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

2018 LONG RANGE

DEVELOPMENT
PLAN

JULY 2018
 I NTR O DUC TIO N

b ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

 I N T R O D UCT IO N

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

CHAPTER T WO
CAMPUS HISTORY AND STEWARDSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

CHAPTER THREE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

CHAPTER FOUR
LAND USE PLANNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

CHAPTER FIVE
COLLABORATIVE PLANNING.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 1

CH APTER 1: INTRO D U C T I O N
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The University of California, Davis, is a leading

public research university and one of the ten
campuses within the University of California
– one of the most renowned public university
systems in the world (Figure 1.1). The physical
campus constantly evolves as existing facilities
are upgraded, new buildings are developed,
and new spaces are created to fully support the
University’s research and academic mission.
UC Davis has great aspirations for the coming
decade, envisioning significant increases in
research programs and the campus population.
To support this growth, and to ensure the
campus has the necessary facilities and
amenities to remain competitive, the University
initiated a planning process to fully understand
the campus of tomorrow.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 3

 CH APTER 1: INTRO D U C T I O N

FIGURE 1.1 The University of California includes ten main campuses. While UC Davis offers a diversity of programs
across the state, the 2018 LRDP focuses on the programs in and near Davis.

THE CAMPUS OF TOMORROW LRDP DEFINED

For UC Davis, the campus of tomorrow is a place
where students, faculty, and staff live, learn and
work in an environment that is beautiful and
accessible, functional and flexible, and sustainable
and resilient. It is a place that fosters research
and innovation; it is a place that grows the most
fertile minds for the next generation of engaged
leaders; and it is a place that examines challenging
societal issues. The UC Davis 2018 Long Range
Development Plan (LRDP) is the culmination of
a multi-year effort to understand these needs,
identify strategic improvements and projects, and
enable the campus of tomorrow.
The LRDP is a comprehensive land use plan
guided by principles and objectives that support
the University’s mission while conserving
resources and guiding the campus towards
a more sustainable future. On the one hand,
the LRDP is a planning tool that establishes a
land use framework for future campus growth
to accommodate changes in enrollment,
employment, physical infrastructure or facilities.
On the other hand, the LRDP is a planning guide
that strives for the highest levels of stewardship for
existing resources and for new investments
in growth.

4 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


FIGURE 1.2 The 2018 LRDP includes the main campus in Davis and Russell Ranch to the west
The LRDP is specific to the main Davis campus
and does not include the UC Davis Health campus,
Lake Tahoe Environmental Research Center, the
Bodega Marine Research Lab or other satellite
programs affiliated with UC Davis (Figure 1.1). The
areas included in the LRDP are shown in blue on
Figure 1.2.
C HA P T E R 1 : I N T R OD UCTIO N
The potential environmental impacts associated
with implementation of the LRDP were analyzed
according to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). The University prepared
a programmatic Environmental Impact Report
(LRDP EIR) that serves as the comprehensive
environmental analysis from which all anticipated
projects included in the LRDP could be tiered.
While the LRDP EIR serves as the overarching
environmental analysis for the LRDP, the
environmental impacts associated with future
individual projects will be assessed on a project-
by-project basis.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 5
 CH APTER 1: INTRO D U C T I O N

LRDP CATALYST
With the potential expansion of research programs
and initiatives, and potential growth in enrollment
and employment, the office of Campus Planning
and Environmental Stewardship began a multi-
year planning process to initiate a new LRDP in
the summer of 2015. This process included both
an evaluation of the key factors associated with
any campus growth, and a robust and inclusive
community engagement process.

ENROLLMENT PROJECTION:
39,000 STUDENTS
The LRDP enrollment forecast is 39,000 students,
an increase of approximately 5,000 (Figure 1.3).
West Village Neighborhood
LRDP enrollment figures include undergraduate
and graduate students as one category of growth
in order to retain flexibility and quickly respond to
a great variety of internal and external factors. Due
to the very important role graduate students serve
as teaching assistants for undergraduate classes,
graduate admissions would most likely increase
with the rising tide of undergraduate admissions.

EMPLOYMENT PROJECTION:
14,500 FACULTY AND STAFF
The LRDP employment projection is 14,500
employees, an increase of approximately 2,000.
Three factors may lead to potential growth in
employment: (1) increased enrollment would
require additional faculty; (2) increased research
initiatives would require additional faculty as well
as professional researchers; and (3) growth in the
campus population would increase the number of
support staff affiliated with academic and student
life programs, as well as the stewardship of
campus infrastructure and management of campus
resources.

6 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

 C HA P T E R 1 : I N T R OD UCTIO N

CAMPUS HOUSING PROJECTION:

20,000 RESIDENTS
The LRDP campus housing projection is about
20,550 people living on campus, an increase of
about 10,550 (Figure 1.3). Most of the potential
growth in campus housing is oriented towards
students – about 9,050 additional students
living on campus. Most of the potential growth in
student housing is oriented towards upper division
undergraduates and graduates (non-freshman).
The remaining potential growth in campus housing
is oriented towards family housing for faculty, staff
and students.

FIGURE 1.3 2018 LRDP enrollment and campus

ACADEMIC SPACE PROJECTION: housing projections
11,500,000 SQUARE FEET
The LRDP projection for academic building space
is about 11,500,000 square feet, an increase of
approximately 2,000,000. Potential growth in
enrollment and employment requires investment
in physical infrastructure, such as new classrooms
and study spaces, offices and research facilities,
and roadways and open spaces. Academic space
does not include the building area associated
with other land use designations such as student
housing.

TABLE 1-1: EXISTING AND PROJECTED CAMPUS POPULATION

EXISTING P OT E N T I A L NET NEW
CONDITION 2018 LRDP C O M PA R E D TO
P O P U L AT I O N ( 2 0 1 6 -2 0 1 7 ) P O P U L AT I O N 2 0 1 6 -2 0 1 7

Enrollment1 33,825 39,000 5,175

Employment 12,365 14,500 2,135
Los Rios Davis Community College Center 615 1,230 615
Dependents (of UC residents) 460 1,949 1.489
Non-UC employees (USDA, daycare,
third-party support staff, mixed use, K–12) 285 590 305
Total Campus Population 47,550 57,269 9,719
1.
Three-quarter average headcount of Davis-based student population. Source: University of California, Davis, 2018

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 7

 CH APTER 1: INTRO D U C T I O N

PRINCIPLE 1: PRINCIPLE 2: PRINCIPLE 3:

SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC ENRICH COMMUNITY LIFE CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
ENTERPRISE

FIGURE 1.4 Planning Principles for the Long Range Development Plan

LRDP PLANNING PRINCIPLES

The planning principles guide the LRDP to shape
a healthy and productive campus environment
(Figure 1.4). The first principle aims to support the
academic enterprise and the broad mission of a
land grant university. The second principle aims to
enrich community life and the diverse collection
of campus programs and services that support
health and wellbeing in the broadest sense. The
third principle aims to create a more sustainable
future through active and engaged stewardship
of resources and infrastructure. These principles
are mutually dependent and interconnected. Each
principle is supported by more specific planning
objectives, as presented on the following pages.

8 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


PRINCIPLE 1: SUPPORT THE
ACADEMIC ENTERPRISE
The LRDP structures the physical environment to
support the academic enterprise of UC Davis, a
land-grant institution. The fundamental aspects
of any land-grant university pertain to education,
research and public service, all of which are
oriented towards the betterment of the individual,
the immediate community and society in general.
AC A D E M I C E NTE R P R I S E
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ C E L E B R AT E T H E AC A D E M I C M I S S I O N
UC Davis is a public, land-grant university with
an academic mission focused on education,
research and public service. The LRDP and the
entirety of the campus environs are intended
to support the academic mission and create a
campus that welcomes and engages a broad
public audience.
■■ I N S P I R E S C H O L A R S H I P I N P L AC E
The LRDP aims to support teaching and
learning throughout the entirety of the campus
environs. While much of the scholarship
occurs within the classrooms and study spaces
throughout campus, the formal landscapes
and community spaces of the campus are
fundamental to learning as well. The campus
contains a great diversity of outdoor spaces
that serve as learning environments for
students and the greater campus community to
interact and advance scholastic pursuits.
C HA P T E R 1 : I N T R OD UCTIO N
■■ E N C O U R AG E I N T E R D I S C I P L I N A RY
R E S E A R C H I N P L AC E
UC Davis is noted for its wealth of
interdisciplinary research, and the ease
with which students and faculty collaborate
across academic boundaries. The campus
environment should foster interactions among
the campus community by providing spaces for
researchers to come together and engage in
creative and expansive dialogue. The campus
includes a rich collection of research facilities
that should be coordinated with public space to
create environments that encourage interaction
across disciplinary boundaries.
■■ HONOR PUBLIC SERVICE
Through scholarship and innovative
research UC Davis strives to educate the
next generation of leaders and contribute to
solutions for pressing societal challenges. The
campus should foster a welcoming physical
environment that connects the public to the
work of UC Davis and actively engage a wide
public audience. Academic conferences,
cultural performances, curated exhibits and
public gardens create forums for UC Davis to
share its story and engage the greater public.
■■ P L A N F O R LO N G E V I T Y
UC Davis should plan for the long term,
respecting the past and anticipating the future,
when shaping the campus environment.
The preservation of significant historical
resources and the investment in new campus
infrastructure should consider longevity
when weighing the alternatives. Planning
considerations should incorporate a multi-
generational perspective when evaluating
scenarios.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 9
 CH APTER 1: INTRO D U C T I O N

■■ F O S T E R A S A F E A N D W E LC O M I N G P L AC E
The degree to which students, staff and
faculty members feel safe and welcome on
campus reinforces their involvement in campus
activities, both curricular and co-curricular.
The extent to which the campus is perceived
as accessible and inclusive contributes to
the recruitment and retention of community
members. A campus environment that
supports the welfare of its members promotes
PRINCIPLE 2: ENRICH an atmosphere of respect, productivity and
COMMUNITY LIFE personal growth. The UC Davis Principles of
Community serve as a guide for all planning
The LRDP structures the physical environment
considerations.
to enrich community life on campus. UC Davis
■■
promotes a diverse collection of campus programs C U R AT E A N E N V I R O N M E N T W O R T H Y

and services that augment the academic mission OF OUR AFFECTION

and contribute to a strong sense of community. The generous landscape and rich collection
The gracious formal and informal landscapes of of heritage oak trees are central features of
campus provide a rich and diverse environment for the of UC Davis campus. This landscape forms
communities of people to gather and engage with a unique campus identity that expresses a
one another. commitment to the environment and makes
visible the land-grant and agricultural traditions
CO M M U N IT Y LI F E
of UC Davis. The beauty of campus is a great
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
inheritance. The stewardship of that inheritance
■■ FOSTER MEANINGFUL AND
and the continued dedication to a beautiful
DIVERSE CONNECTIONS
environment worthy of affection remains at the
The public spaces between, around and within
forefront of all planning considerations.
campus buildings provide important places
■■ C R E AT E A H E A LT H Y C A M P U S
for people to gather and discuss ideas, to rest
A healthy campus involves the interconnection
and restore oneself, to advocate and agitate
between individual health, environmental
for recognition and change, and to engage
health and institutional health. An extensive
with others in public space. These spaces
open space network is a foundational
help to enliven the campus and create the
component of a healthy campus. Open
“marketplace of ideas” that is so much a part
space is key for active recreation as well
of a college campus. Such spaces also bring
as contemplation and relaxation. Open
people together and help to span the divides
space fosters a healthy environment. The
of culture, class, politics and religion. The
development of campus housing should foster
quality and character of these connections are
healthy communities with access to food and
fundamental components in fostering campus
open space with direct access to service and
community. Campus Gateways serve as the
amenities.
largest and grandest connections where the
regional community comes together for various
cultural events.

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 C HA P T E R 1 : I N T R OD UCTIO N

■■ P R O M OT E AC T I V E S T E WA R D S H I P
Engage the campus community in planning for
the future and in direct and active stewardship
of campus resources. UC Davis has an
authentic legacy where by students actively
participate in many aspects of campus life,
from healthy food systems to bicycle and
bus transportation to shaping the campus
environment. The collective stewardship of
our community is vital to the preservation of
PRINCIPLE 3: CREATE A the environment and to maintaining strong
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE connections between people and the natural
systems that support them.
The LRDP structures the physical environment
■■
to create a more sustainable campus and M A N AG E F O R F L E X I B I L I T Y A N D R E S I L I E N C Y

conserve natural and cultural resources for future Dynamically manage the preservation and
generations. As a land grant institution UC Davis stewardship of natural resources and campus
is committed to the stewardship of natural and infrastructure. While climate change is certain,
cultural resources as well as scholarship and the predictability of that change and the
research on sustainability. Several UC policies, the associated implications and significance are
Carbon Neutrality Initiative and the UC Sustainable more difficult to forecast. The management
Practices Policy prioritize investments in more of campus resources and infrastructure must
sustainable infrastructure and guide the physical adapt to the dynamic, shifting nature of climate
development of campus. change. Provide a framework that is flexible
enough to accommodate the certainty of
S TE WA R D S H I P A N D S U S TA I N A B I LIT Y
change and resilient enough to persist through
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
the uncertainty of more extreme climate events
■■ C O N S E R V E N AT U R A L R E S O U R C E S
and paradigm shifts in our social fabric.
Universities are typically institutions with
great longevity, proud traditions and the
responsibility to work towards the betterment
of society. UC Davis recognizes that the
environment is an inheritance from past
generations and that there is an obligation to
preserve and enhance it for future generations.
Stewardship of campus resources should guide
management decisions and direct planning
outcomes. The LRDP strives to preserve natural
resources and the vitality of ecosystems.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 11

 CH APTER 1: INTRO D U C T I O N
PROCESS OVERVIEW
In addition to the principles and planning
objectives, a robust, award-winning community
engagement process also helped informed the
LRDP. From the initial workshops held during the
summer of 2015, the LRDP engaged a wide and
diverse audience to gather feedback from the
greater community over a two year span
(Figure 1.5). The following is a summary of the
major stages of the community engagement
process.
SUMMER OF 2015
I N ITI A L WO R K S H O P S
The initial summer workshops of 2015 focused
on two major themes to which the LRDP would
respond – housing and transportation. These two
themes resonated with the community throughout
the planning process. In addition to the broad
participation from UC Davis staff, representatives
from the City of Davis, Sacramento Area Council
of Governments and Yolo County also participated
in the workshops. The campus community voiced
concerns about academic and administrative
space when considering significant growth in the
campus population.
■■ Mobility Workshop
■■ Housing Workshop
12 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
The Fall 2015 engagement process won the Award
of Merit in Public Outreach by APA California,
Sacramento Valley Section
Nelson Gallery Open House
FA LL O F 2 0 1 5
I N ITI A L P L A N N I N G CO N C E P T S
In the fall of 2015, campus initiated a broad
community engagement effort to characterize
potential growth, share initial planning concepts
and gather feedback from the community. Nelson
Hall was created as an exhibition space for large
open houses for the public as well as multiple
focus groups and workshops with the community.
UC Davis also hosted an open house with the City
of Davis at the Davis Senior Center in the fall of
2015.
The initial concepts asked the public about various
planning scenarios, one of which considered the
redevelopment of Toomey Field as new mixed-use
residential space. The community voiced concern
about the loss of Toomey Field and opposed the
idea of redevelopment.
■■ Community Open Houses
■■ Community Open House Hosted with
City of Davis at the Davis Senior Center

Student Life Workshop
W I NTE R O F 2 0 1 6
S TU D E NT LI F E WO R K S H O P S
In the winter of 2016, students participated in a
series of interactive workshops oriented towards
student life. These students were also joined by
several staff affiliated with the diverse programs
associated with community life and, for the most
part, managed by Student Affairs.
■■ Student Life Workshop Series Introduction
■■ Campus Housing Workshop
■■ Campus Transportation Workshop
■■ Campus Daily Life Workshop
■■ Student Life Workshop Series Summary
C HA P T E R 1 : I N T R OD UCTIO N
Preliminary Planning Scenario
SPRING OF 2016
P R E LI M I N A RY P L A N N I N G S C E N A R I O
In the spring of 2016, campus issued a Preliminary
Planning Scenario which quantified the LRDP
projection for growth in campus housing as well
as academic space. While the Preliminary Planning
Scenario removed Toomey Field as a possible
redevelopment site, Russell Field and Howard
Field remained as possible sites for new campus
housing.
Campus met with student government body
and local community groups to discuss student
housing. Campus planning staff attended multiple
community events to share information and gather
feedback. The community voiced concern about
housing on existing recreational fields and strongly
opposed the idea of housing in this area.
■■ Open House hosted on campus at the
Coffeehouse
■■ Open Table hosted at Thank Goodness for Staff
■■ Open Table hosted at Davis Farmers’ Market
■■ Open Table hosted at Celebrate Davis
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 13
 CH APTER 1: INTRO D U C T I O N

Growth
Assumptions

Nelson Gallery
Student
Open Houses Life
Workshops
Space Needs
Analysis Initial
Workshops Planning
focused on Concepts
Mobility and Online Gallery
Transportation Exhibit and

Initial Mapping

SUMMER THROUGH FALL 2015 WINTER 2016

FIGURE 1.5 Summary of the LRDP Community Engagement and Plan Development Process

FA LL O F 2 0 1 6 W I NTE R O F 2 0 17
DRAFT PLANNING SCENARIO N OTI C E O F P R E PA R ATI O N

In the fall of 2016, campus issued a revised plan,
the Draft Planning Scenario, which removed
housing from Howard Field and retained housing
on Russell Field. The community voiced concern
about housing on existing Russell Field and
strongly opposed the idea of housing in this
area. In response, campus issued a revised Draft
Planning Scenario that entirely removed housing
from Russell Field.
■■ Open House hosted on campus at the
Coffeehouse
■■ Open Table hosted at Davis Farmers’ Market
■■ Open House hosted with City of Davis at the
Davis Senior Center
■■ Presentation to ASUCD Senate
Prior to the issuance of the Draft Environmental
Impact Report, UC Davis issued a Notice of
Preparation (NOP) and conducted a public
and agency scoping process to consider input
on the range of impacts and approach to the
environmental analysis process. The NOP review
period began on January 4, 2017 and ended
on February 17, 2017. The due date for public
comments was extended beyond the required 30-
day period which would have ended on
February 3, 2017.
■■ NOP Open House hosted on campus at the
Conference Center
■■ NOP Open House hosted in partnership with
the City of Davis in the Council Chambers
Conference Room

14 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

 C HA P T E R 1 : I N T R OD UCTIO N

Draft Long
Range
Development
Plan

Draft Open Houses Initial Housing Request

Preliminary Planning Environmental for Proposals
Planning Scenario Analysis and Transportation
Scenario Released NOP Workshops
Draft
Environmental
Impact Report

SPRING THROUGH FALL 2016 WINTER THROUGH SUMMER 2017 SPRING 2018

S P R I N G O F 2 0 17
TR A N S P O R TATI O N WO R K S H O P S
In January 2017 UC Davis began a multi-year
effort to examine new ways to promote healthier
transportation choices through the management
of parking and the offering of new transportation
programs. In the Spring of 2017, Transportation
Services held a series of workshops on mobility
and engaged a diverse group of public agency
and stakeholder representatives in a collaborative
and interactive discussion about potential
transportation futures. The initial vision resulting
from this engagement centered health: individual
health, environmental health and institutional
health. In the coming years, UC Davis will engage
the campus community to learn more about
barriers to and preferences for more sustainable
travel choices and collaborate with local and
regional partners to offer a collection of programs
and services that encourage more sustainable
travel choices for the campus community.
S U M M E R O F 2 0 17
S TU D E NT H O U S I N G R E Q U E S T
F O R Q UA LI F I C ATI O N S
In the summer of 2017 UC Davis issued a request
for qualifications to eight developers pre-
selected by the Office of the President to design,
construct, own and manage two rental apartment
communities on campus. In the fall of 2017 UC
Davis selected a private-sector developer for the
expansion of the West Village neighborhood and
the redevelopment of Orchard Park Apartments.
With almost 5,000 beds, these two projects
represent the largest student housing construction
campaign in campus history. These two projects
are specific projects included within the LRDP
and are dependent upon the LRDP EIR for project
approval and realization.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 15

 CH APTER 1: INTRO D U C T I O N
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
The LRDP is organized into four main chapters
focused on campus history and stewardship,
neighborhood planning, land use planning and
collaborative planning.
C H A P TE R 2
C A M PU S H I S TO RY A N D S TE WA R D S H I P
The stewardship of the UC Davis campus and the
rich collection of natural and cultural resources
is a fundamental task for the LRDP. This chapter
pertains to campus history, the stewardship of
ecosystems and the conservation of natural
resources, and the management of campus
infrastructure and built systems. With this
contextual frame, the LRDP establishes important
planning objectives for the stewardship of campus
history as well as natural and cultural resources.
16 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
C H A P TE R 3
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
The stewardship of the UC Davis campus and
the rich collection of neighborhoods and sense
of place is a fundamental task for the LRDP.
This chapter pertains to Central Campus, South
Campus, West Campus, and Russell Ranch and
the associated neighborhoods in each area. Most
of the academic and co-curricular activities and
large cultural events occur within the Central
Campus while the great majority of agricultural and
environmental field research occur within West
Campus, South Campus and Russell Ranch.

C H A P TE R 4
LAND USE PLANNING
The designation of land use is a fundamental task
for the LRDP. Land use planning for UC Davis is
intended to support the academic mission by
creating convenient and efficient relationships and
to create a healthful and attractive environment.
This chapter pertains to twelve individual land use
designations, organized into thematic groupings
of similar land use designations: Academic, open
space, residential and infrastructure. The two
most intensive and extensive academic land use
designations are Academic and Administrative and
Teaching and Research Fields.
C HA P T E R 1 : I N T R OD UCTIO N
C H A P TE R 5
CO LL A B O R ATI V E P L A N N I N G
Community engagement is a fundamental task
for the LRDP. UC Davis seeks to build upon the
community engagement associated with the
LRDP planning process and foster collaborative
partnerships in the months and years ahead. This
chapter pertains to collaborative planning and
the next steps following the anticipated approval
of the LRDP. Moving forward, UC Davis will
continue to foster partnerships that work across
jurisdictional boundaries and leverage the synergy
of shared objectives.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 17
CHAPTER 2: CAM PU S H I STO RY A ND ST E WA RD SHI P
 CHAPTER TWO

CAMPUS HISTORY AND

STEWARDSHIP

The stewardship of the UC Davis campus

history and the rich collection of natural and
cultural resources is a fundamental task for
the LRDP. This chapter is organized into three
sections. The first section briefly describes
campus history. The second section pertains
to the ecological history of campus and the
stewardship of ecosystems going forward.
The third section pertains to the conservation
of natural resources and the management of
campus infrastructure and built systems.

Together, these three sections represent the

baseline conditions of this particular place and
establish the physical, climatic and ecological
context to which the LRDP responds. From
this contextual frame, the LRDP establishes
important planning objectives for the
stewardship of campus history as well as natural
and cultural resources.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 19

 CHAPTER 2: CAM PU S H I STO RY A ND ST E WA RD SHI P
Aerial view of UC Davis and the City of Davis (1953)
CAMPUS HISTORY
In the years before European settlement of
the Americas, the southwest portion of the
Sacramento Valley and the northeast uplands of
the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta were home
to the Patwin tribe. Though their numbers were
radically reduced by disease and dislocation
associated with Spanish and early Californian
settlers, the Patwin tribal community still remains
in the valley.
20 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
In the mid to late nineteenth century, Davisville
emerged as a small agricultural town with a
modest train depot located between Sacramento
and Oakland. In 1905, Judge Peter J. Shields
sponsored legislation supporting the formation
of a new university farm for the University of
California, then located solely in Berkeley.
Davisville won the competition for the University
Farm in 1906, and the doors of what would
become UC Davis opened in 1908. The University
Farm evolved into the College of Agriculture;
the Veterinary School was added in 1948; and in
1959, the Davis campus became a comprehensive
university of its own, the University of California,
Davis.
 C HA P T E R 2 : CA M P U S HI STORY A N D ST EWAR D SHIP

North and South Halls surrounding the Quad (circa 1920s)

In the more than one hundred years since the

founding of the University Farm, UC Davis has
UC DAVIS
grown to be a top tier public research university, ■■ College of Agricultural and
with an international reputation for leadership in Environmental Sciences
sustainability. Today, UC Davis has four colleges
■■ College of Biological Sciences
and six professional schools with more than a
quarter million alumni living in California. ■■ College of Engineering
■■ College of Letters and Science
■■ School of Law
■■ School of Graduate School of
Management
■■ School of Medicine
■■ Betty Irene Moore School
of Nursing
■■ School of Veterinary Medicine
■■ School of Education

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 21

 CHAPTER 2: CAM PU S H I STO RY A ND ST E WA RD SHI P
FIGURE 2.1 The four main areas of campus
Today’s main campus includes more than 5,000
acres, most of which is dedicated to agricultural
research (Figure 2.1). The 900-acre Central
campus, the area located between State Route 113,
Interstate 80 and the City of Davis, is where the
vast majority of teaching and research activities
are located. For reference, the UC Berkeley core
campus is almost 200 acres.
22 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
Over the next hundred years the impact of
new technologies, new social structures and
climate change will ripple throughout the
regional landscape, socially, economically
and environmentally. The LRDP establishes a
flexible framework for future development, as
UC Davis continues to evolve in response to new
societal challenges and new forms of knowledge
acquisition.

C A M PU S H I S TO RY
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ R E S P E C T F U L LY AC K N O W L E D G E N AT I V E
A M E R I C A N H E R I TAG E
In collaboration with local tribes and the
campus Native American communities, look
for opportunities to express Native American
heritage in the campus landscape and
respectfully acknowledge the early inhabitants
of this region. Provide active stewardship of
potential archeological resources through on-
going protection, evaluation and consultation.
■■ C E L E B R AT E C A M P U S H I S TO RY
Preserve and interpret campus history for
future generations; integrate appropriate and
relevant narratives about architecture and the
greater history of UC Davis into the campus
fabric to enrich the sense of place; preserve
heritage cork oak alleys and historical olive
tree windrows as key elements of the cultural
landscape.
■■ F O S T E R A S E N S E O F P L AC E
As campus continues to evolve, foster a sense
of place through the preservation of key
visual elements; protect campus landmarks,
Picnic Day Parade (1916)
C HA P T E R 2 : CA M P U S HI STORY A N D ST EWAR D SHIP
such as the iconic water towers, as significant
visual elements that provide continuity with
the passage of time; preserve significant
views, such as the views across the expansive
agricultural fields towards the Blue Ridge
Berryessa Mountains, as important elements of
campus visual character.
■■ P R E S E R V E A G R AC I O U S C A M P U S L A N D S C A P E
Preserve the formal and informal campus
landscape as a network of public space for the
greater community; create architectural forms
that frame gracious open spaces and welcome
people to campus; provide appropriately scaled
transitions between building entrances and the
greater campus landscape.
■■ FOSTER RESILIENT L ANDSCAPES
Curate a more resilient campus landscape that
responds to the challenges of climate change;
convert underutilized lawn areas into drought
tolerant plant communities that require less
water for irrigation and offer greater resiliency.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 23
 CHAPTER 2: CAM PU S H I STO RY A ND ST E WA RD SHI P
Putah Creek and Bicycle Corridor
ECOSYSTEMS
For millennia Putah Creek transferred soil particles
from the inner coast range to the flat lands of the
Sacramento Valley and created one of the richest
depositories of soil on earth. During flood events,
as Putah Creek overwhelmed the riverbanks, the
muddy waters inundated surrounding areas, and
deposited fertile soil across the valley floor.
This geomorphic dynamic established the
subtle topography of the valley and created
the circumstances for two plant communities
to evolve and thrive throughout the region.
Riparian forests and oak savanna grasslands
were the predominant environmental habitats and
represent the conservation platform for ecosystem
preservation and restoration.
The diversion of Putah Creek in the late nineteenth
century and the construction of Monticello Dam
in the middle of the twentieth century significantly
altered the geomorphological process of Putah
Creek. While the prevalence of flooding has been
greatly reduced and the natural environment
greatly altered, the natural forces that shaped pre-
settlement ecosystems persist, albeit within a new
context that is significantly altered and affected by
human intervention.
24 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
The Putah Creek Riparian Reserve and associated
oak woodlands and native grasslands on Russell
Ranch are the primary lands on campus dedicated
to the stewardship of these specific plant
communities and native ecosystems. The other,
more altered landscapes throughout campus also
serve as habitat and support ecosystem functions.
Campus contains over two thousand acres of
agriculture that also support various ecosystems.
While cropland is a dynamic landscape feature
that is frequently altered throughout the year,
these cultivated lands function as habitat for
some wildlife species such as songbirds and small
rodents. Orchards and vineyards also function as
habitat, albeit it with relatively low value for native
wildlife due to the lack of understory vegetation
that would provide food and cover for wildlife to
thrive.
The formal landscapes of the Core Campus and
other developed portions of campus function as
an urban habitat and offer ecosystem benefits
as well. Campus has a rich collection of cork
oaks and other ornamental trees that have been

planted over the past hundred years. A few
heritage oaks remain as sign posts to the distant
past, primarily along the remnant creek in the UC
Davis Arboretum; these trees are treasures. The
campus canopy functions as habitat for a variety of
species.
The less formal, interstitial landscapes throughout
campus exist as undeveloped open spaces
consisting largely of non-native annual grasses.
These lands still function as habitat for resident
and migratory wildlife species seeking refuge
and prospect, cover and forage. Small mammals,
reptiles and birds can be found in this habitat type.
E C O S YS TE M P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R E S E R V E E C O S YS T E M H E A LT H
Preserve and promote ecosystem vitality
throughout campus; incorporate biodiversity
and resiliency into the design of green
infrastructure and restoration of natural
systems.
UC Davis Arboretum
C HA P T E R 2 : CA M P U S HI STORY A N D ST EWAR D SHIP
■■
P R O M OT E U R B A N E C O LO GY
Integrate ecosystem functions into the more
urban landscapes of campus and increase the
habitat value across the cultural landscape;
systematically convert underutilized lawn areas
into habitat.
■■ CONSERVE BIODIVERSIT Y
Preserve and enhance existing environmental
lands and conserve biodiversity for the greater
purpose of conservation.
■■ PRESERVE SOIL INTEGRIT Y
Preserve the integrity of soils as a vital resource
for ecosystem functions throughout campus;
reduce soil erosion from wind and rain; consider
tail water ponds and wind rows as well as other
best-practices to minimize loss of soil; minimize
soil compaction.
■■ L E V E R AG E S C I E N C E
Foster academic partnerships and support
opportunities on campus to conduct
environmental research to guide the
stewardship of ecosystem health.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 25
 CHAPTER 2: CAM PU S H I STO RY A ND ST E WA RD SHI P

UC Davis Agriculture Water Irrigation System

BUILT SYSTEMS
UC Davis maintains and operates a complex of sources for water including the Sacramento
network of infrastructure in support of the River, Putah Creek and several aquifers. The
academic mission and the built environment. The reclaimed water from the ‘waste’ water treatment
built systems throughout campus represent one plant serves as a thermal resource for the campus
of the most important opportunities for improved chilled water system.
stewardship of natural resources and for a more
Many of these systems require significant amounts
resilient campus. The built systems are organized
of energy and represent a great opportunity
into two broad sections: water and energy. The
for conservation and improved stewardship. In
LRDP contains planning objectives to conserve
addition to the six water systems, staff operate
natural resources through the stewardship of
and maintain a complex system for the production
these systems.
and distribution of energy as well as the
UC Davis operates and maintains six water interconnection with the public energy grid. The
systems on campus; each with unique complex relationships between these systems and
opportunities and challenges for greater the possibility of new systems represents another
stewardship. There is a domestic system for opportunity for conservation and improved
potable water and fire protection, an irrigation resiliency.
system for the formal landscapes in the core
campus, another irrigation system for agricultural
fields, a drainage system for storm water and flood
protection, a collection and treatment system for
sewage, and a heating and cooling system for the
core campus that relies upon chilled water and
steam. In general campus relies upon a variety

26 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


B U I LT S YS TE M S P L A N N I N G O B J E C TI V E S
■■ E N C O U R AG E S U S TA I N A B L E A R C H I T E C T U R E
Promote more sustainable buildings; when
renovating existing buildings, update the
building systems as well; when feasible replace
‘temporary buildings’ with more energy efficient
structures; when designing new structures
promote the use of more sustainable systems
to reduce overall energy.
■■ R E S I L I E N T WAT E R S U P P LY
Preserve access to water; foster greater
resiliency with regards to water supply;
consider water recycling programs to conserve
and reuse natural resources; explore possible
uses of reclaimed water from the sewage
treatment plant; consider the integration of
gray water collection and treatment systems to
minimize impact on the sewage treatment plant
and to reduce demands on the aquifer.
UC Davis water tower and the Solar Farm
C HA P T E R 2 : CA M P U S HI STORY A N D ST EWAR D SHIP
■■ C O N S E R V E WAT E R
Protect aquifer as a resource for future
generations; enhance water conservation
programs for all campus systems, especially
the core campus irrigation system. Conserve
domestic water to minimize diversion of water
from deep aquifers, the Sacramento River and
Putah Creek.
■■ FOSTER GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Continue to integrate storm water treatment
basins throughout campus to reduce flood
impact, improve water quality, recharge
local aquifers, and integrate drought-tolerant
landscapes across the campus.
■■ P R E S E R V E A I R Q UA L I T Y
Foster the production of more renewable
energy to preserve air quality and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions; continue to reduce
average energy use across all segments of
campus; develop programs to reduce and
divert waste from land fill; support campus
composting and recycling programs.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 27
CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG
 CHAPTER THREE

NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING

The Davis campus is composed of four main

areas: Central Campus, South Campus, West
Campus, and Russell Ranch (Figure 3.1). Most of
the academic and extracurricular activities and
large cultural events associated with UC Davis
occur within the Central Campus area. West
Campus, South Campus and Russell Ranch are
predominantly agricultural and environmental
research lands and also contain multiple
neighborhoods.

The following sections and associated planning

objectives help shape the built environment
to support, enrich and expand the academic
enterprise at the Davis campus. In aggregate,
these objectives help align building placement,
bikeways, open spaces and pedestrian ways to
reinforce and extend the public space network
from the Quad and Shields Library to the north,
south, east and west. The overall vision for the
campus and how these different areas relate to
each other is shown on the following pages.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 29

 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG
FIGURE 3.1 The main campus for UC Davis is composed of four main areas
CENTRAL CAMPUS
At the heart of the Central Campus is the Quad,
the historic core of campus. This area is a
special planning district with a rich collection
of history and tradition. The areas immediately
adjacent to the Quad are predominantly oriented
towards teaching and research facilities and
are so described as the Academic Core. The
neighborhoods on the periphery of the core
campus are oriented towards community life and
characterized by a diverse collection of programs
oriented towards housing, recreation, athletics and
open space.
30 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
CIVIC CORE
The Quad and the adjacent historic buildings
represent the civic core of the Central Campus
and mark the space where the University Farm
began in 1908. The Quad is anchored by big ‘civic’
buildings, the Memorial Union and Shields Library,
which like the Quad, attract the whole campus
population to the center of the campus (Figure
3.2). Over the years, an open space network has
evolved and expanded outward from the Quad.
From the historic entrance on Howard Way to the
new front door on Old Davis Road, the campus
radiates outward from the Quad. From the historic
entrance on Shields Avenue to the new Student
Community Center on Hutchinson Drive, the
campus emerges as a network of connected
public spaces and buildings, characterized by
the hourly pulses of students, coming and going
from class. Large numbers of pedestrians and
bicyclists establish the vibrant atmosphere of the
Core Campus while the heritage cork oaks and
the gracious campus landscape offer a calming
splendor.

FIGURE 3.2 UC Davis Central Campus and the Civic Core
C I V I C CO R E P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ A S S E S S H I S TO R I C R E S O U R C E S
Evaluate architectural and landscape
architectural elements as potential historic
resources.
■■ C E L E B R AT E T H E P E D E S T R I A N
Create a welcoming public space with safe
passage for pedestrians; given the large
number pedestrians in the core campus,
sidewalks need to become gracious
promenades; locate high-use academic
buildings within the core campus to
encourage walkability.
C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G
■■ E X PA N D T H E P U B L I C S PAC E N E T W O R K
Create additional open spaces to increase
the connectivity within the public space
network and provide meeting places where
students and faculty from different academic
neighborhoods can interact across academic
boundaries.
■■ P R E S E R V E AC T I V E E D G E S
Create a vibrant open space throughout the
core campus by locating programs associated
with frequent and regular activity in buildings
on the edges of open space.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 31
 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG
AC A D E M I C CO R E P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■
■■
Shields Library is a vital part of the civic core
■■
ACADEMIC CORE
The Civic Core is largely framed by the Academic
Core and the academic programs associated with
the colleges and professional schools (Figure
3.3). The Academic Core also includes significant
academic programs in the Health Science District,
anchored by the School of Veterinary Medicine.
■■
The LRDP accommodates significant development
of facilities and infrastructure to support potential
growth of the academic enterprise. Over the past
hundred plus years, the development associated
with campus growth has expanded outwards.
The LRDP anticipates significant redevelopment
■■
of existing facilities and the densification of the
Academic Core; the renovation and reuse of
existing facilities will foster a new, inward oriented
development pattern in alignment with campus
sustainability goals. The LRDP also anticipates new
facilities that will expand and intensify academic
programs throughout campus.
32 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
F O S T E R N E I G H B O R H O O D I N T E R AC T I O N
AND IDENTIT Y
Cluster related academic programs into
neighborhoods to realize programmatic
efficiencies, increase opportunity for interaction
and strengthen identity in place.
I N T E N S I F Y T H E AC A D E M I C C O R E
Increase architectural density and intensity
in the Academic Core when contextually
appropriate; improve space utilization within
existing buildings; replace temporary buildings
with multi-story, energy efficient buildings
and accompanying public spaces; locate less
intensive academic programs in West Campus
and South Campus.
D E S I G N AT E A D D I T I O N A L L A N D S TO S U P P O R T
T H E AC A D E M I C E N T E R P R I S E
In addition to intensifying existing academic
areas, provide additional land for the academic
enterprise; including a portion of A Street Field,
land near the Bowley Plant Science Teaching
Facility for additional research space; and land
near the Cole Facility, south of La Rue Road for
related teaching and research.
I N T E G R AT E R E S I D E N T I A L C O M M U N I T I E S
Integrate residential communities within
the academic core and develop ‘mixed use’
buildings with academic and administrative
programs on the lower floors and housing
above.
E X PA N D O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K
Preserve and enhance the interconnectivity
within the open space network; integrate
gathering places into the various
neighborhoods within the academic core to
provide opportunities for social interaction,
collaboration and scholarship; provide
quiet spaces for rest, rejuvenation and
contemplation; provide a network of shaded,
garden walkways throughout campus to create
comfort and joy.
 C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G

FIGURE 3.3 The Academic Core and community life circle

COMMUNITY LIFE
In addition to the teaching and research activities
in the core campus, UC Davis offers a diverse
collection of programs that foster community
life well beyond the classroom. These programs
are geographically arranged as a ring-shaped
collection of neighborhoods encircling the core
campus (Figure 3.3). The ten community life
neighborhoods include the Arboretum, three
campus entrances and six residential communities.
Together, these neighborhoods foster a greater
sense of community on a diversity of scales.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 33

 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG

UC Davis Arboretum

ARBORETUM A R B O R E TU M P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ R E N OVAT E T H E WAT E R WAY A S
The Arboretum, as one of the most treasured
‘GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE’
public spaces in the region, offers an incredible
Restore the Arboretum Waterway as a central
collection of gardens and walkways for the greater
piece of storm water infrastructure that
campus community to enjoy (Figure 3.4). The
functions as the main drainage basin for the
Arboretum began as and continues to serve the
Central Campus; integrate regenerative design
academic mission of UC Davis but it also serves as
concepts into the Waterway to minimize long
one of the central open spaces for community life.
term maintenance; foster ecosystem functions
throughout the waterway.

34 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

 C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G

FIGURE 3.4 The UC Davis Arboretum

■■ I M P R OV E AC C E S S I B I L I T Y ■■ FOSTER CONNECTIVIT Y
The Arboretum is a unique place that features Foster greater connectivity across the
water and variations in topography otherwise Arboretum waterway; consider a new multi-
not present in an arid and flat landscape; modal bridge near Old Davis Road; consider
provide an accessible route throughout the the integration of a new crossing with the
length of the Arboretum that safely separates renovation of the Wyatt Deck.
pedestrians from cyclists and enables visitors of
all ages and abilities to participate in Arboretum
programs.
■■ E X PA N D T H E A R B O R E T U M
Expand the Arboretum lands into existing areas
like the Mrak Promenade as well as new areas
associated with development immediately
adjacent to the Arboretum.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 35

 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG
ENTRANCES
The main entrances to campus are important
places that engage and welcome visitors into the
campus community (Figures 3.5 through 3.7). The
historic entrance on Howard Way offers expansive
recreational fields that frame the campus edge and
heritage oaks that guide visitors to the Memorial
Union and the Quad. The Old Davis Road entrance
includes visitor-oriented venues such as the
Robert Mondavi Performing Arts Center, the
Shrem Museum, the Buehler Alumni Center and
the Welcome Center that engage a wide, public
audience. The Hutchison Drive entrance includes
venues such as the Pavilion, Aggie Stadium, the
Activities and Recreation Center and a variety of
Athletic fields and facilities that serve the greater
campus community. Campus Recreation and
Intercollegiate Athletics programs bring people
together, enliven public space and strengthen the
sense of community on campus. The majority of
recreation and athletics programs are located near
the Howard Way and Hutchison Drive entrances
and contribute significantly towards the vibrancy of
these neighborhoods.
The UC Davis campus has many entrances but
the three formal entrances include Howard
Way, Hutchison Drive and Old Davis Road. The
Howard Way entrance is the historic entrance for
the Central Campus, prior to the development
of I-80. The Hutchison Drive entrance is, as
conceptualized in the LRDP, an entrance for large
events associated with Aggie Stadium and the
Pavilion. The Old Davis Road entrance is, in many
ways, the main public entrance for the University.
36 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
G E N E R A L E NTR A N C E
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ LO C AT E H I G H T R A F F I C P U B L I C V E N U E S A N D
D E S T I N AT I O N S AT C A M P U S G AT E WAYS
Entry locations facilitate access to high volume
activities, such as arts venues, athletic venues
and conference centers, in locations with easy
access to people working and studying inside
the campus and visitors from outside the
campus.
■■ P R E S E R V E O P E N S PAC E O N T H E E D G E
Preserve gracious and welcoming open space
on the edges of campus where UC Davis
connects to the local and regional community,
to perpetuate an open and inviting edge to the
campus, and to foster the role of the campus as
a local and regional center.
■■ F O S T E R A W E LC O M I N G A R R I VA L S E Q U E N C E
Enhance the campus landscape to preserve
and strengthen an arrival sequence that
welcome visitors from the edge of campus to
the civic core; the sense of arrival is more than
one moment in the landscape.
■■ F O S T E R A P O S I T I V E V I S I TO R E X P E R I E N C E
Preserve and enhance a comprehensive way
finding and signage program for roadways,
bicycle pathways and pedestrian walkways to
increase the legibility of campus and create a
positive experience for visitors as they navigate
across the large campus landscape.
■■ P R E S E R V E A N D E N H A N C E P U B L I C AC C E S S
TO T H E C A M P U S
Celebrate the many entrances to the campus;
develop entrances that respond to the
character of each place and the types of
movement associated with each entry.

FIGURE 3.5 The Howard Way Entrance Framework
H OWA R D WAY E NTR A N C E
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R E S E R V E H O WA R D WAY A S A
CAMPUS ENTRANCE
Preserve Howard Way as an historic entrance
to campus; consider the addition of physical
features to mark the historic entrance near
Russell Boulevard and create an authentic
expression of place.
■■ P R E S E R V E A N D E N H A N C E AC T I V E E D G E S
Preserve Russell Field, Howard Field and
Toomey Field as active spaces for formal
recreational and athletic programs; reconfigure
the eastern edge of Toomey Field as a more
gracious edge of campus.
C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G
■■ I N T E N S I F Y U S E O F R E C R E AT I O N A L F I E L D S
Consider the addition of lights on Russell
Field to provide more opportunity for greater
participation in recreation and athletic
programs; upgrade existing lights on Howard
Field to conserve energy and reduce light
pollution.
■■ I M P R OV E T H I R D S T R E E T E N T R A N C E
Formalize the entrance on Third Street;
consider existing recreational field, A Street
Field, as an infill development site for
academic programs; consider the integration
of residential space above the ground floor;
preserve a gracious open space setback along
A Street.
■■ R E V I TA L I Z E H I C K E Y GY M
Foster greater connectivity between Hickey
Gym and North Quad Street.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 37
 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG

FIGURE 3.6 The Hutchinson Drive Entrance Framework

H UTC H I S O N D R I V E E NTR A N C E
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ ■■ C R E AT E A F R O N T D O O R F O R
P R E S E R V E A N D E N H A N C E AC T I V E E D G E S
Preserve Hutchison Field and Dairy Field as I N T E R C O L L E G I AT E AT H L E T I C S

active and visible spaces for formal recreational Create a front door for Intercollegiate Athletics;
and athletic programs; consider more energy- consider the addition of a new physical feature
efficient lights on both fields. to mark Hutchison Drive as a campus entrance
■■
and create more welcoming access to public
P R OV I D E O P P O R T U N I T Y F O R G R O W T H
venues for athletics; consider a location
Provide additional space for development near
between Hutchison Drive and Aggie Stadium.
the Pavilion; preserve the existing Dairy site,
■■
opposite Aggie Stadium, as a future expansion ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN AND

zone for Campus Recreation and Intercollegiate B I C YC L E E X P E R I E N C E

Athletics in the years beyond 2030. Retain Enhance the pedestrian and bicycle network
Toomey Field as the track. along La Rue Road and Hutchison Drive,
■■
especially the entry sequence from State Route
C R E AT E A S T U D E N T AT H L E T E C E N T E R
113; reconfigure both intersections at Hutchison
Cluster Athletic programs to create a clear
Drive and State Route 113 to create a more
and deliberate center that supports student
welcoming environment for pedestrians and
athletes; anticipate infill development around
bicyclists; consider landscape medians and
Aggie Stadium and the Pavilion.
bicycle travel lanes.

38 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


FIGURE 3.7 The Old Davis Road Entrance Framework
O LD DAV I S R OA D E NTR A N C E
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ C E L E B R AT E AG R I C U LT U R A L H I S TO RY
AND IDENTIT Y
Preserve and enhance the presence of
agricultural teaching and research lands along
Old Davis Road.
■■ E N H A N C E T H E A R B O R E T U M WAT E R WAY
Enhance the Arboretum Waterway as an
environmentally rich landscape with vibrant and
regenerative ecosystem functions.
C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G
■■ C R E AT E A N E W R E G I O N A L C E N T E R
Create a new development area west of Old
Davis Road, between the Arboretum and I-80,
to accommodate high volume visitor facilities
that benefit from a location adjacent to the
Arboretum, similar to the Mondavi Center and
other facilities along Old Davis Road; leverage
adjacency to the Arboretum for environmental
performance.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 39
 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG

Tercero Student Housing Segundo Dining Commons

CAMPUS HOUSING R E S I D E N C E H A LL S

Several areas adjacent to the academic core are

Campus housing fosters a residential sense
dedicated to residence halls and the student life
of community that contributes towards the
associated with first year students (Figure 3.8).
community life on the campus. There are six
The residence halls accommodate more than
residential neighborhoods associated with
5,000 traditional first year students on campus
community life. The Segundo, Tercero and Cuarto
and offer a variety of programs that integrate
neighborhoods accommodate traditional first-year
students into University life. The residence hall
students in residence halls and offer programs to
are located in the Segundo, Tercero and Cuarto
help students adjust to university life. The West
neighborhoods. Each of these areas includes a
Village, Orchard and Solano neighborhoods
dinning commons, neighborhood open space,
accommodate faculty, staff, undergraduate
significant amounts of bicycle parking and other
students, graduate students and students with
amenities.
families interested in living on campus.
The LRDP provides land for about 1,000
additional students in residence halls. The LRDP
includes new dining facilities as a key part of
the development within each Community Life
neighborhoods, as significant growth in the
number of students living in residence hall
increases the need for dining services.

40 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


FIGURE 3.8 Residence Halls
R E S I D E N C E H A LL
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R E S E R V E A N D E X PA N D R E S I D E N C E H A L L S
Preserve and expand the campus housing
portfolio for traditional first year students.
■■ F O S T E R N E I G H B O R H O O D S E N S E O F P L AC E
Preserve and strengthen the sense of place
within each neighborhood; the open space
network in these areas should feel residential
and foster a sense of belonging for all
residents.
■■ P R OV I D E AC C E S S TO H E A LT H Y F O O D
Accommodate expansion of student dining
facilities and help improve access to healthy
foods.
C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G
■■ PRESERVE RESIDENT LIFE PROGR AMS
Preserve resident life programs that
academically support students and integrate
students into University Life.
■■ F O S T E R H E A LT H Y M O B I L I T Y
Preserve and enhance transportation programs
to encourage more sustainable travel choices
for the residential communities living on
campus; preserve, enhance and expand the
bicycle infrastructure within all residence hall
neighborhoods; consider more secure bicycle
parking.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 41
 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG
West Village Apartment Housing
C A M PU S A PA R TM E NT N E I G H B O R H O O D S
Campus apartments are primarily located along
the edge of campus and adjacent to the City of
Davis (Figure 3.9). These neighborhoods include
West Village, Orchard Park and Solano Gateway
and are primarily oriented towards faculty, staff,
undergraduate students, graduate students and
students with families.
42 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
G E N E R A L C A M PU S A PA R TM E NT
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ B A L A N C E D E N S I T Y W I T H A F F O R DA B I L I T Y
A N D Q UA L I T Y O F P L AC E
Balance the additional building costs
associated density with affordability and quality
of place; all three factors are important.
■■
P R E S E R V E N E I G H B O R H O O D PA R K S
Preserve and enhance open space throughout
residential neighborhoods; create small
intimate parks for neighbors to gather and
foster meaningful connections.

FIGURE 3.9 Campus Apartment Neighborhoods
■■ F O S T E R WA L K A B I L I T Y
Create generous pedestrian promenades
throughout campus to encourage campus
residents to walk for everyday needs.
■■ P R O M OT E B I CYC L E O R I E N T E D D E V E LO P M E N T
All campus housing should be designed as
bicycle-oriented development and include
safe and secure bicycle parking; create
generous bicycle pathways and thoroughfares
throughout campus to encourage campus
residents to bike for everyday needs.
C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G
■■ M I N I M I Z E O N - S I T E PA R K I N G
Reduce the amount of on-site parking for
campus housing to increase the amount of
land dedicated to housing; develop a remote
parking lot in South Campus as a ‘park n
bike’ facility for campus housing, as well as
commuter parking.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 43
 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG
West Village Apartment Housing
W E S T V I LL AG E N E I G H B O R H O O D
■■
The existing West Village neighborhood contains
three apartment complexes, a community college
campus, and a central green that is framed by six
mixed-use residential buildings with academic
and administrative programs as well as some
commercial retail on the lower floor (Figure 3.10).
■■
The LRDP projection for West Village
accommodates about 3,800 additional students
in new construction and provides additional
recreational open space as well as a community
center. In 2016-17 the existing apartments
■■
accommodate about 2,000 students. The LRDP
projection for West Village also includes about
500 residential units for faculty and staff.
44 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
W E S T V I LL AG E P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
P R E S E R V E E X PA N S I V E V I E W S AC R O S S
THE LANDSCAPE
Integrate views of the Blue Ridge and
the Berryessa Gap into the design of
key neighborhood open spaces; provide
opportunities to view across agricultural fields.
I N T E G R AT E G R E E N I N F R A S T R U C T U R E
Enhance the storm water basins as resilient
and health ecosystems; integrate ecosystem
functions into the design of agricultural buffers;
into the neighborhood open space network.
P R OV I D E A S T U D E N T C O M M U N I T Y C E N T E R
Locate a community center near the open
recreational field in the western portion of West
Village; possible uses could include laundry,
cafe, classroom, study space, fitness center,
yoga and dance studios, and support offices.
 C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G

FIGURE 3.10 West Village Neighborhood Concept

■■ E N H A N C E T H E O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K
Create a common open space at the
westernmost edge of the development;
integrate pathways on the periphery of
storm water basins and agricultural buffers to
maximize community benefits; provide open
recreational fields for formal and informal play.
■■ E X PA N D T H E C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E
Provide land for the expansion of the Los Rios
Sacramento City Community College.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 45

 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG

The Domes at Orchard Park Neighborhood

O R C H A R D PA R K N E I G H B O R H O O D

The existing Orchard Park neighborhood contains
five apartment complexes, including Orchard Park
Apartments, Russell Park Apartments, the Atriums
at La Rue Park, the Social Living Groups at La
Rue Park, the Colleges at La Rue and the Domes
(Figure 3.11). The Orchard Park neighborhood also
includes the Student Health and Wellness Center,
the Student Farm, a community garden, three
daycare facilities, the Recreation Pool, and two
core greenhouse facilities.
While the LRDP designates the greenhouse facility
nearest the Student Health and Wellness Center
as student housing, the redevelopment of the area
must follow the replacement of greenhouses and
the expansion of core greenhouse facilities near
the Bowley Plant Science Teaching Facility.

The LRDP provides land for about 1,400 additional

students in the redevelopment of existing Orchard
Park Apartments. The project includes land for
200 two-bedroom apartments for students with
families and apartment buildings for about 1,200
graduate students. The project also includes a
community center for the student family area.

46 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


FIGURE 3.11 Orchard Park Neighborhood Concept
O R C H A R D PA R K P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ D E V E LO P A FA M I LY F R I E N D LY
NEIGHBORHOOD
Provide housing for students with families in
the Orchard Park neighborhood and integrate
appropriate amenities for children.
■■
P R O M OT E S U S TA I N A B L E AG R I C U LT U R E
Preserve, enhance and expand opportunities
for sustainable agriculture; preserve and
enhance the Student Farm and adjacent
community gardens.
C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G
■■ P R O M OT E S U S TA I N A B L E L I V I N G
Preserve the Domes as an important part of
the campus community; continue to engage
students in exploring new strategies for
integrating sustainability and living/learning
communities.
■■ S U P P O R T T H E AC A D E M I C E N T E R P R I S E
Provide additional space for the expansion of
the Student Health and Wellness Center as well
as the Core Greenhouse Facility near Bowley
Plant Science Teaching Facility.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 47
 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG
The Solano Park Neighborhood
S O L A N O G ATE WAY N E I G H B O R H O O D
The existing Solano Park neighborhood includes
Solano Park Apartments, a portion of the campus
loop road, several large parking lots, the Wyatt
Pavilion, Nelson Hall, Solano Field, and a collection
of buildings, greenhouses and gardens associated
with Environmental Horticulture as well as other
academic and administrative programs.
The LRDP provides land for housing about
1,000 additional students in the Solano Gateway
neighborhood which contains two redevelopment
areas (Figure 3.12). One redevelopment area
contains Solano Park Apartments and Parking Lot
5. Redevelopment of the Solano Park apartments
will not begin until new family-oriented student
housing has been successfully implemented with
the redevelopment of Orchard Park. The other
redevelopment area contains land between the
campus loop road and the Arboretum: Parking
Lot 5A, Solano Field and a collection of buildings,
green houses and gardens associated with
48 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
Environmental Horticulture as well as other
academic and administrative programs. The Wyatt
Pavilion, Nelson Hall, Hyatt Place and the relatively
new buildings facing the Mondavi Center and the
Vanderhoef Quad are also included in this area
and are to remain.
The LRDP also allows for the realignment
Old Davis Road to improve the development
opportunities within the campus loop road
and enable a roadway connection to the Nishi
property, a privately held property proposed for
student-oriented housing located across the Union
Pacific railroad.
S O L A N O G ATE WAY P L A N N I N G
O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ FOSTER URBAN LIVING
Create an urban walkable neighborhood with
easy access to downtown Davis; consider the
integration of academic and administrative uses
in the Solano Park neighborhood.

FIGURE 3.12 Solano Park Neighborhood Concept
■■ I N T E G R AT E A VA R I E T Y O F P R O G R A M S
Integrate a variety of programs including with
academic and administrative functions on
the first floor with housing above; consider
additional daycare facilities.
■■ E X PA N D T H E A R B O R E T U M
Extend the gardens of the Arboretum into
Environmental Horticulture and Solano Park
Apartments; integrate the gardens associated
with Environmental Horticulture into the open
space network.
C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G
■■ O R I E N T H O U S I N G TO T H E A R B O R E T U M
Locate new residential areas along the edge of
the Arboretum; relocate existing parking lots
near the Arboretum closer to the Union Pacific
railroads.
■■ R E A L I G N O L D DAV I S R OA D
Consider re-alignment of Old Davis Road to
preserve multiple roadway and pedestrian
connections between the Union Pacific
railroad, campus, the Nishi Property and the
City of Davis.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 49
 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG

FIGURE 3.13 West Campus Neighborhoods

WEST CAMPUS
West Campus is primarily composed of Riparian Reserve. The Pierce Tract includes the
agricultural teaching and research fields and California National Primate Research Center, a few
environmental lands associated with the Putah additional academic research programs, a remnant
Creek Riparian Reserve, interspersed with several campus land fill, and a portion of the Putah Creek
pockets of more intensive development in three Riparian Reserve.
neighborhoods: Hopkins Road, North Fork and
The LRDP projection accommodates the
the Pierce Tract. The Hopkins Road neighborhood
expansion of academic research programs and
includes various academic research programs,
administrative support functions in all three of
administrative support services and the University
these neighborhoods (Figure 3.13). The Pierce
Airport. The area also contains a great collection
Tract contains additional space for scholarship
of olive trees and a few storm water basins. The
and research, the North Fork contains additional
North Fork neighborhood hosts a few academic
space for a new dairy facility, and the Hopkins
research programs, administrative support
contains land suitable for research programs and
services, and the north fork of the Putah Creek
administrative support services.

50 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


G E N E R A L W E S T C A M PU S
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ PRESERVE FIELDS
Preserve fields for agricultural and
environmental research.
■■ C R E AT E AG R I C U LT U R A L B U F F E R S
Integrate transitional spaces between
agricultural fields and other land uses.
■■ E X PA N D T H E O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K
Enhance open space network and connectivity
throughout West Campus.
■■ I N T E G R AT E G R E E N I N F R A S T R U C T U R E
Create storm water treatment basins and
tale water ponds to preserve soils, minimize
erosion, improve water quality and ensure
compliance with environmental regulations.
■■ E N H A N C E H U TC H I N S O N D R I V E
Enhance the roadside landscaping along
Hutchison Drive to create treat roadway runoff,
calm traffic, preserve soil and strengthen the
sense of place.
H O P K I N S R OA D P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ E N H A N C E T H E O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K
Provide additional open spaces along Hopkins
Road; include an open space setback along the
west side of Hopkins Road for an off-street bike
path and landscaped area to connect points
north to the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve.
■■ P R OV I D E A D D I T I O N A L S PAC E
Provide additional land for research activities
and the relocation of administrative support
staff from Central Campus to the West Campus.
■■ R E TA I N T H E U N I V E R S I T Y A I R P O R T
Retain the University Airport as a key resource
for campus and the greater aviation community.
C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G
N O R TH F O R K P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R E S E R V E T H E P U TA H C R E E K
R I PA R I A N R E S E R V E
Preserve the original Putah Creek channel
alignment as a viable habitat area.
■■ P R OV I D E S PAC E F O R A N E W DA I RY
Provide additional space for a new dairy facility
and associated animal fields.
P I E R C E TR AC T P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R OV I D E A D D I T I O N A L S PAC E
Provide additional space for the expansion of
research programs and administrative support
for the California National Primate Research
Center.
■■ PRESERVE AND ENHANCE
CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE
Preserve and enhance storm water
infrastructure along County Road 98 and
Russell Boulevard; reserve land for a potential
treatment facility for Berryessa water; provide
adequate storm water treatment facilities where
needed; appropriately manage the remnant
land fill; preserve opportunities for land-based
renewable energy generation; provide an area
adjacent to the existing landfill for recycling and
composting.
■■ E N H A N C E T H E O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K
Consider the addition of overlooks along
the existing bicycle pathway along Russell
Boulevard and provide an opportunity for
visitors to enjoy the stormwater basin which
hosts a variety of wildlife.
■■ E N H A N C E H U TC H I S O N D R I V E
Enhance the roadside landscaping along
Hutchison Drive to create treat roadway runoff,
calm traffic, preserve soil and strengthen the
sense of place; collaborate with Yolo County on
the long-term plans for County Road 98.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 51
 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG
Solar Farm on campus
SOUTH CAMPUS
South Campus is primarily composed of teaching
and research fields and campus infrastructure
and is located between Interstate 80 and Putah
Creek along Old Davis Road. The Union Pacific
railroad and Old Davis Road divide South Campus
is into four sections. The lands west of Old Davis
Road are primarily composed of agricultural
fields dedicated to plant pathology and other
academic research programs. The lands to
east of Old Davis Road are primarily dedicated
to campus infrastructure as well as academic
research programs specific to animal support and
wellbeing. This area also contains the LEHR, an
area with special constraints pertaining to historic
and ongoing environmental remediation.
52 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
The LRDP projection accommodates the
expansion of academic and administrative
programs as well as campus infrastructure in
South Campus (Figure 3.14). The area west of
Old Davis Road and immediately south of I-80
is characterized as a remote parking lot that will
function as a ‘park n bike’ facility, with potential
academic or administrative programs. The remote
lot may also provide significant area for the
generation of renewable solar energy.
S O UTH C A M PU S P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R OV I D E L A N D F O R R E M OT E
PA R K I N G FAC I L I T Y
Reserve land for a remote ‘park n bike’ facility
west of Old Davis Road, near the exit ramp
for I-80; consider additional multi-modal
transportation and clean energy features, such
as the layering of renewable energy production
atop surface parking lots; facilitation of regional
transit access and high-speed charging stations
for electric vehicles.

FIGURE 3.14 South Campus Neighborhood Concept
■■ P R OV I D E A D D I T I O N A L S PAC E F O R G R O W T H
Provide additional space for academic and
administrative functions.
■■ E N H A N C E T H E S T E WA R D S H I P O F
N AT U R A L R E S O U R C E S
Enhance the LEHR site in compliance with
governing documents related to environmental
cleanup and re-use.
■■
E N H A N C E T H E O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K
Provide dedicated bicycle connection along
the western edge of Old Davis Road from Putah
Creek Riparian Reserve to existing bicycle
facility and tunnel near I-80.
C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G
■■ E X PA N D C A M P U S I N F R A S T R U C T U R E
Provide adequate space for expansion of
the waste water treatment facility and the
electrical substation; reserve land for storm
water treatment basins to serve South Campus
needs; reserve land for the expansion of the
existing solar array and potential geothermal
facilities.
■■ P R E S E R V E AG R I C U LT U R A L F I E L D S
Preserve teaching and research fields for Plant
Pathology and other research programs.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 53
 CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG

FIGURE 3.15 Russell Ranch Neighborhood Concept

RUSSELL RANCH
Russell Ranch is located about one and one-half
miles west of the main campus. The 1,600 acres
of Russell Ranch are primarily used for large-scale
agricultural and environmental research, the study
of sustainable agricultural practices, and habitat
mitigation (Figure 3.15). Russell Ranch is bordered
roughly by County Road 96 on the east, Putah
Creek on the south, Covell Boulevard on the
north, and Russell Boulevard and privately owned
agricultural land on the west and northwest.
R U S S E LL R A N C H P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R E S E R V E L A N D F O R AG R I C U LT U R E
Preserve the fields on Russell Ranch for
agricultural and environmental research.
■■ P R E S E R V E L A N D F O R H A B I TAT
Continue to enhance the ecosystem health
of the oak woodland and native grassland on
Russell Ranch as key environmental habitat.

54 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

 C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G

Russell Ranch Research Field

OTHER CAMPUS LANDS R E S E A R C H PA R K D R I V E

P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
The other campus lands in the LRDP include
■■ P R OV I D E S PAC E F O R G R O W T H
campus-owned lands within the City of Davis,
Provide additional space for research programs
including the Chancellor’s residence on College
to expand within the South Davis Campus, on
Park, several parcels on Research Drive Park
Research Park Drive.
in south Davis, Eighth and Wake Apartments in
■■ O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K
central Davis, and three parcels along the eastern
edge of A Street. Encourage the continuation of dedicated
bicycle pathway to connect existing paths
along the remnant channel of Putah Creek and
the bicycle tunnel under I-80.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 55

FIGURE 3.16 Long Range Development Plan Neighborhood Diagram

CHAPTER 3: NEIG H B O RH O O D PLA NNI NG

56 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

 C HA P T E R 3 : N E I G HB OR HOOD P L AN N IN G

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 57

CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
 CHAPTER FOUR

LAND USE PLANNING

The LRDP guides the physical development

of campus in support of the academic mission
by distributing new building area efficiently,
conserving land and resources, minimizing
conflicts between uses, ensuring public safety
and health. The LRDP land use designations
structure development while respecting the
historical and geographical context of the
campus.

This chapter outlines four broad categories of

land use; academic, open space, residential
and infrastructure, each of which contain
several individual land use designations. In the
following pages each land use designation will
be qualified and quantified and associated with
specific planning objectives.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 59

 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
Sculpture class
ACADEMIC LAND USES
The academic enterprise at UC Davis maps
into two land use designations: the academic
and administrative land use designation and
the teaching and research fields land use
designation. These two designations represent
the primary lands associated with the academic
mission and are the two most extensive land use
designations in terms of overall acreage, building
area and energy use. In many ways the remaining
portions of campus and the associated land use
designations support and enrich the academic
activity associated with these two land uses.
ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE
The academic and administrative land use
designation is the primary land use associated
with the academic enterprise. The buildings
within this land use designation accommodate
most instruction and research space. The vast
majority of the overall campus building area is also
associated with this land use designation
(Figure 4.1).
60 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
The lands identified for academic and
administrative land use increase by more than 70
acres in the LRDP. Most of this additional area is
currently agricultural land or undeveloped open
space. This land use category includes space for
classrooms, teaching labs, faculty offices, research
labs and studios, administrative offices and
support space, and public venues such as unions,
libraries, museums and performance venues.
The academic and administrative land use
designation also includes important programs that
sustain the academic enterprise and the campus
community. Facilities such as the Coffee House
and the Student Community Center, the Police
and Fire departments, the Unitrans service yard,
and the Student Health and Wellness Center
exemplify the important programs, services and
administrative functions that support the campus
community. The academic and administrative land
use designation also includes a modest amount of
student housing, permanent parking facilities with
fewer than one hundred parking spaces, as well
as temporary parking facilities with fewer than five
hundred parking spaces. The land identified for a
dairy facility in West Campus is also identified as
academic and administrative due to the teaching
and research activities.
AC A D E M I C A N D A D M I N I S TR ATI V E
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ E X PA N D AC A D E M I C FAC I L I T I E S
Provide flexibility to locate an additional 2
million square feet of built space for academic
functions, largely through infill development in
the Academic Core and Health Science District.
■■
E X PA N D A D M I N I S T R AT I V E FAC I L I T I E S
Accommodate expansion of academic support
facilities as needed throughout campus;
provide additional space for the expansion
of the Fire Station, Unitrans service yard, the
Student Health and Wellness Center and other
administrative functions.

FIGURE 4.1 Academic Land Uses
■■ ENHANCE THE SENSE OF COMMUNIT Y
Foster a strong sense of community through
the physical development of academic
buildings and related public spaces. Integrate
public programs on the ground floor to active
academic and social interaction; support the
creation of distinct academic neighborhoods
and the aesthetic cohesiveness within and
across such neighborhood; provide gathering
spaces in academic neighborhoods to serve
as centers of activity and places of identity;
provide gathering spaces that draw people
from across the boundaries of academic
neighborhoods to promote interaction with
people from other disciplines and interests.
C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G
■■ C O N S E R V E E N E R GY
Conserve energy through active management
of building systems; integrate the principles of
sustainability into new projects; when right-
sizing sustainability strategies for maximum
effectiveness evaluate the efficacy of possible
conservation strategies through a variety of
scales, from individual buildings to building
sites and from campus neighborhoods to utility
systems.
■■ F O S T E R A R E S I D E N T I A L AT M O S P H E R E
Bring residential quality and vitality to the
academic campus by integrating academic
programs with residential living; consider the
land use and programmatic advantages of a
mixed-use development pattern when and
where appropriate.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 61
 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
Wheat fields at Russell Ranch
TEACHING AND RESEARCH FIELDS
The teaching and research fields land use
designation includes almost 3,000 acres and
represents the largest area of campus. The
teaching and research fields land use includes
both the active teaching and research fields
associated with academic programs as well as
the leased agricultural lands, which are reserved
for future teaching and research uses. Most of
the orchards, vineyards, croplands and pastures
are located in South Campus, West Campus
and Russell Ranch. The Student Farm and the
vineyards near the Robert Mondavi Institute
for Food and Wine represent the remaining
agricultural lands to be maintained within the
core campus. The teaching and research fields
land use designation also includes numerous
greenhouses and administrative buildings which
primarily support the agricultural research and the
general operation and maintenance of fields. Low
intensity animal support facilities, open-air shade
62 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
structures, horse paddocks, gravel service roads
and lay-down space, as well as irrigation wells,
culverts, tale water ponds and roadside drainage
swales exemplify the agricultural character of this
land use designation.
While the LRDP designates more than 100 acres
of existing teaching and research fields for other
uses, the vast majority of prime agricultural land is
maintained in agricultural use. The LRDP retains
about 2,700 acres of the existing 3,000 acres of
teaching and research fields.
TE AC H I N G & R E S E A R C H F I E LD S
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R E S E R V E L A N D S F O R AG R I C U LT U R E
Maintain large areas of land in the West
Campus and the South Campus for intensive
field research; arrange new development
in dense clusters to preserve agricultural
and environmental lands; preserve the
vineyard near Robert Mondavi Institute, horse
pastures and the Student Farm as the primary
agricultural lands within the Core Campus.
 C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G

Plant Pathology Field in South Campus

■■ F O S T E R H E A LT H Y AG R I C U LT U R A L ■■ P R E S E R V E V I E W S O F T H E B LU E
E C O S YS T E M S R I D G E M O U N TA I N S
Identify adequate land area to create vegetated Preserve views across the expansive
wind rows and tale water ponds to preserve agricultural fields towards the Blue Ridge
soil, improve water quality and integrate Mountains to the west.
ecosystem functions into the agricultural lands; ■■ LO N G -T E R M R E S E A R C H
incorporate agricultural open space buffers Locate long-term agricultural and
when and where appropriate. environmental research fields at Russell Ranch
■■ E X PA N D T H E O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K as appropriate.
Provide publicly accessible open spaces and
walking paths within and across west and south
campus, while maintaining needed safety
and security for agricultural operations; the
agricultural lands are designated for teaching
and research and also serve as a significant
visual open space for the community; formalize
access to open space and minimize impacts on
research fields.

2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 63

 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
OPEN SPACE LAND USES
Campus open space maps into five land use
designations, one of which also includes significant
built space: Campus Recreation and Athletics
(Figure 4.2). The Arboretum and Public Garden
and the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, along with
Campus Recreation and Athletics, represent the
great majority of open space on campus. The
other two open space land use designations are
Community Gardens and Undeveloped Open
Space. Together, campus contains slightly more
than 1,000 acres of open space.
The Arboretum and Public Garden land use
designation includes the Arboretum and the formal
public landscapes throughout the Central Campus.
The Campus Recreation and Athletic land use
designation includes fields and facilities in support
of Campus Recreation and Inter-Collegiate Athletic
programs. The Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
land use designation includes a collection of
environmental lands associated with Putah Creek.
Much of the visual open space on campus
is dedicated to important agricultural and
environmental field research where access for
the public may create safety concerns or and
negatively impact research. The LRDP identifies a
distinct open space network within the agricultural
lands, as part of the Arboretum and Public Garden
land use designation, to formalize the open space
areas within the greater agricultural fields of west
campus and minimize conflicts between two
separate land use designations.
The LRDP increases the overall area for open
space by about 50 acres, not including the
conversion of undeveloped open space to other
land uses.
64 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
ARBORETUM AND PUBLIC GARDEN
The Arboretum and Public Garden land use
designation includes all of the Arboretum, as well
as the formal campus landscapes, such as the
Quad, the Mrak Promenade, and the graceful cork
oak allées throughout the Central Campus. These
lands include some of the most treasured places
on campus.
The Arboretum and Public Garden land use
designation also includes the Central Campus
streets. These circulatory elements function as
long linear parkways for pedestrians and cyclists,
with infrequent use by service vehicles and include
significant amounts of bicycle infrastructure and
pedestrian amenities. These ‘bicycle streets’ and
pedestrian walkways are vital linkages within the
campus open space and circulatory networks.
These lands are also coincident with campus
infrastructure systems and contain significant
portions of the various distribution networks for
the core campus utilities.
A R B O R E TU M A N D PU B LI C G A R D E N
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■
C R E AT E M O R E S U S TA I N A B L E L A N D S C A P E S
Foster more sustainable landscapes that
support ecosystem health; curate resilient
climate appropriate plant communities;
conserve water and other natural resources;
minimize use of pesticide, herbicide, and
fertilizers; integrate storm water treatment
features into the campus landscape.

FIGURE 4.2 Open Space Land Uses
■■ PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE OPEN
S PAC E N E T W O R K
Preserve and enhance the open space
network; develop new common open spaces
and tree-lined streets as the built environment
expands; incorporate gracious, shaded
walkways throughout campus; create central
gathering space for each neighborhood; extend
the landscape character of the Arboretum
across campus where appropriate.
■■ F O S T E R A H E A LT H Y A N D R E S I L I E N T
URBAN FOREST
Manage the urban forest to adapt to changing
conditions, maximize health and biodiversity
and foster a diverse and resilient urban forest
for generations to come.
C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G
■■ P R E S E R V E A N D E N H A N C E T H E B I CYC L E A N D
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE
Preserve, enhance and expand bicycle and
pedestrian infrastructure; expand bicycle
pathways and increase bicycle parking areas
throughout the campus; improve bicycle
safety through educational programs; reduce
bicycle and pedestrian conflicts; provide more
designated areas for pedestrians; provide
safe and gracious walkways for pedestrians
throughout campus.
■■ AC T I V E S T E WA R D S H I P
The act of gardening is an act of stewardship
that directly impacts the world; engaging the
local community in creating and maintaining the
campus as a climate-appropriate garden can
improve health for the gardener, the garden
and by extension the greater community and
the planet at large.
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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG

Bird banding at Putah Creek Monitoring Putah Creek water quality

PUTAH CREEK RIPARIAN RESERVE

The Putah Creek Riparian Reserve land use
designation contains more than 600 acres of open
space dedicated to environmental stewardship
and associated research. The Putah Creek
Riparian Reserve and associated oak woodlands
and native grasslands are the primary lands on
campus dedicated to the stewardship of these
specific plant communities and native ecosystems.

66 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


Wetlands under restoration
PUTA H C R E E K R I PA R I A N R E S E RV E
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■
P R E S E R V E R U S S E L L R A N C H H A B I TAT A R E A
Preserve habitat restoration on a large
designated areas of Russell Ranch.
■■
R E S TO R E T H E N AT I V E E C O S YS T E M S
Continue to restore native ecosystems
throughout the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve;
especially along the original channel alignment
or the North Fork.
C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G
■■ I N C R E A S E H A B I TAT C O N N E C T I V I T Y
Foster greater connectivity between habitat
lands.
■■ E X PA N D O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K
Increase multi-modal connectivity between the
various reserve lands, especially along the old
North Fork, along Garrod Road and Old Davis
Road; Preserve land for the Putah Creek Picnic
Grounds and Camp Putah activities.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 67
 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
Training near Toomey Field
CAMPUS RECREATION
AND ATHLETICS
The recreation and athletics land use designation
is an important part of the campus open space
network. Russell Field, Howard Field, and
Hutchison Field represent the main open fields
on campus; these fields are shared between the
Campus Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics.
These fields are also used by members of the
community and function as open space in general.
The recreation and athletics land use designation
includes facilities such as the Activities and
Recreation Center, the Pavilion, Hickey Gym, Aggie
Stadium, Dobbins Baseball Stadium, Toomey Field,
Dairy Field, Softball Field and the Soccer Field.
Altogether, these facilities may accommodate
more than 25,000 people.
While a significant amount of these fields and
facilities are primarily accessible during formal
intercollegiate events, these fields represent an
important aspect of public life where members
of the community come together. Some of these
68 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
fields and facilities accommodate cultural events,
such as graduation. The fields also serve as large
gathering space for a variety of events.
The LRDP intensifies Russell Field, Howard
Field, Hutchison Field and Dairy Field as formal
recreational fields for Campus Recreation and
Intercollegiate Athletics programs. The LRDP also
includes several development opportunities for
the expansion of these programs. Most of this
growth is located along La Rue Road near Aggie
Stadium and the Pavilion; none of the new facilities
are located on Russell Field or Howard Field.
The LRDP designates A Street Field as an infill
development site opportunity for the academic
enterprise.
In consideration of increased recreational activity
associated with potential enrollment growth, the
level and intensity of use for existing recreational
fields may increase. Lights on Russell Field and
several Athletic fields may increase opportunities
 C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G

Student volleyball game

for recreation on the Central Campus. Russell Field ■■ I N T E N S I F Y U S E O F R E C R E AT I O N A L F I E L D S

and other field areas may also serve as detention Consider the addition of lights on Russell
basins for the treatment of storm water runoff and Field as well as the Baseball and Soccer
flood protection. facilities to provide more opportunity for
greater participation in recreation and athletic
The LRDP designates the Animal Science Dairy
programs and enable more evening events
and associated fields and facilities as an expansion
when the temperatures are cooler.
area for Campus Recreation and Intercollegiate
■■ P R E S E R V E AC C E S S TO R E C R E AT I O N A L
Athletics programs; however, the Dairy will
O P E N S PAC E
likely remain sited at its current location. The
Preserve access to recreational open space for
Dairy site may serve Campus Recreation and/
the campus community and large public events
or Intercollegiate Athletics programs in the years
and tournaments.
beyond 2030; the LRDP retains Toomey Field
■■ P R E S E R V E A N D E N H A N C E FAC I L I T I E S
as the track and field facility for the foreseeable
future. Preserve and enhance existing facilities
for Campus Recreation and Intercollegiate
R E C R E ATI O N A N D ATH LE TI C S Athletics such as Russell Field, Howard Field,
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
Toomey Field as well as Aggie Stadium and
■■ I N T E G R AT E G R E E N I N F R A S T R U C T U R E Schaal Aquatics Center.
Preserve and enhance landscapes adjacent ■■ F O S T E R M O R E S U S TA I N A B L E L A N D S C A P E S
to athletic facilities to provide ecosystem
Continue to reduce irrigation water for playing
functions; integrate storm water treatment into
surfaces; consider the use of natural sod as a
recreational and athletic fields to minimize flood
more sustainable material, when appropriate.
impact across campus, improve water quality,
recharge ground water, and create more
resilient landscapes for the campus community.

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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG

Intern garden plot at the Robert Mondavi Institute

COMMUNITY GARDEN CO M M U N IT Y G A R D E N
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
The community garden land use designation ■■ R E TA I N C O M M U N I T Y G A R D E N S
includes two community gardens: one garden is Retain community gardens as a valuable public
located between Solano Park Apartments, the space; locate community gardens near student
Union Pacific Railroad and Old Davis Road while family housing and the Student Farm.
the other garden is located between the Domes ■■ P R OV I D E AC C E S S TO G A R D E N P LOT S
and the Student Farm.
Provide opportunities for campus affiliates to
The LRDP retains the overall acreage of garden and grow healthy foods.
community garden; however, the gardens
near Solano Park Apartments may be lost with
the redevelopment of Solano Park and the
reconfiguration of adjacent roadways for the
potential connection to the Nishi Property. The
relocated space for community gardens is located
near the Domes and the Student Farm.

70 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


Hiking in the Putah Creek open space
UNDEVELOPED OPEN SPACE
Much of the underutilized or informally used
land on campus is designated as undeveloped
open space in the base year for the LRDP. The
designation of ‘undeveloped’ open space signifies
that these lands are not dedicated to any active
use and are typically lands with low habitat value
due to soil compaction and lack vegetation and
wildlife. Many of these lands are designated as
developments with portions of land to remain as
open space.
C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G
The LRDP identifies several land uses for
the conversion of existing lands identified as
undeveloped open space and designates these
interstitial spaces as Arboretum and Public
Garden, Community Garden, Roadways and
Parkways, Academic and Administrative or
Residential, in terms of land use.
U N D E V E LO P E D O P E N S PAC E
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R E S E R V E O P E N S PAC E
When developing undeveloped open space,
integrate a gracious open space network into
the new site.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 71
 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG

Tercero Student Housing

RESIDENTIAL LAND USES

Campus housing represents a major component
of the LRDP (Figure 4.3). Residential land uses
map into two land use designations: Faculty and
Staff Housing and Student Housing. Each of these
designations includes additional elements such as
residential parking, local streets, and open space.
The LRDP projection includes an additional 9,050
students in campus housing, a projection that
significantly exceeds potential enrollment growth
associated with the LRDP and nearly doubles the
overall housing population on campus. In 2016-
17 about 9,800 students lived on campus; about
5,500 traditional first-year students (freshmen)
lived in residence halls and another 4,300 upper-
division undergraduate and graduate students
lived in apartments. The LRDP projection
accommodates about 1,050 students in residence
halls and about 8,000 students in apartments. The
housing projection almost triples the number of
non-freshmen living on campus in apartments; this
is the most ambitious student housing plan in the
history of UC Davis.

72 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


FIGURE 4.3 Residential Land Uses
R E S I D E NTI A L L A N D U S E
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E
■■ F O S T E R LO C A L L I V I N G
Build campus housing with good access to
the Central Campus so campus community
members may continue to live locally,
participate in campus life and contribute
towards a more sustainable future.
■■ FOSTER VIBRANT COMMUNITIES
Foster a strong sense of place and vibrant
community atmosphere and integrate a variety
of scales or ‘circles of community’ within each
residential neighborhood.
C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G
■■ C R E AT E S U S TA I N A B L E N E I G H B O R H O O D S
Structure new campus housing as bicycle
oriented development and transit oriented
development; foster more sustainable travel
choices for everyday life; promote energy
efficiency and conservation measure when
renovating existing housing or developing new
housing.
■■ P R O M OT E A F F O R DA B L E H O U S I N G
Minimize the cost of housing to minimize debt
and empower the next generation of leaders.
■■ E N C O U R AG E D E N S I T Y
The LRDP does not specify a maximum building
height; all future housing projects shall explore
density in relation to affordability and quality of
place.
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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
Tercero Student Housing
STUDENT HOUSING
Most of the land dedicated to campus housing
is contained within the Student Housing land
use designation. In general there are two types
of student housing on campus: residence halls
for traditional first year students and campus
apartments for continuing undergraduates,
transfer students, graduate students, and students
with families.
The residence halls include residential life
programs to help students transition into their
university careers, as well as dining commons
and other support facilities associated with the
operation and maintenance of these facilities.
Some residence halls contain large assembly
space that serve the community and function as
classroom space for campus. For the most part,
students living in residence halls are not provided
a parking space on campus and are not eligible for
a parking permit.
74 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
Honda House in West Village
Campus apartments include support programs
such as community centers, laundry facilities, and
day care centers, as well as on-site parking, storm
water infrastructure and solar energy production.
Campus apartments may also include community
kitchens, fitness centers and studios for yoga and
dance.
In 2016-17, almost 10,000 students lived on
campus. The LRDP expands the overall area
for student housing to accommodate an
additional 8,500 students on campus. Of that
potential growth, about 1,000 students would
be accommodated in residence halls, dormitory
housing for traditional first year freshmen. The
remaining student housing projection, for about
7,500 students, would be oriented towards upper
division students, transfer students, graduate
students and students with families.
 C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G

TABLE 4-1: EXISTING AND PROJECTED CAMPUS HOUSING

EXISTING NET NEW
CONDITION P R OJ E C T E D C O M PA R E D TO
P O P U L AT I O N ( 2 0 1 6 -2 0 1 7 ) TOTA L 2 0 1 6 -2 0 1 7

Students 9,818 18,868 9,050

Employees—West Village 40 525 485
Employees—Aggie Village 40 40 0
Dependents 526 1,949 1,423
Total Housing Capacity 10,424 21,382 10,958
Note: Student housing reflects construction for 8,500 plus additional capacity for 550 students in West Village existing apartments
for total increase of 9,050. For planning purposes, the 8,500 of student housing construction is expected to consist of approximately
3,800 at West Village, 1,400 at Orchard Park, 400 at Cuarto, 900 at Segundo, 1,000 at Solano Gateway, 700 at Tercero, and 300 in
mixed use projects within the Academic Core.

Source: University of California, Davis, 2018

S TU D E NT H O U S I N G
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ E X PA N D A N D D E N S I F Y C A M P U S H O U S I N G
Provide additional area for the expansion of
campus housing; consider redevelopment and
infill densification of existing student housing
areas.
■■ P R OV I D E A D I V E R S I T Y O F H O U S I N G
Provide a diversity of housing that responds
to affordability and individual choice; consider
short-term rental housing for international
students and visiting student scholars.
■■ E X P LO R E I N N OVAT I V E B U I L D I N G T Y P E S
Explore new configurations of student housing
on campus; consider individual private rooms
with common kitchens on each floor; explore
the concepts of community kitchens as a
common space for dining and social interaction.
■■ I N T E G R AT E C O M M U N I T Y P R O G R A M S
Integrate community programs on the ground
floor; arrange the common spaces for laundry,
study, storage, entertainment, and other similar
amenities to offer opportunities for social
interaction as well as individual reflection.

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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG

Students working in groups

FACULTY AND STAFF HOUSING FAC U LT Y & S TA F F H O U S I N G

The Faculty and Staff Housing land use
designation primarily pertains to land within the
West Village neighborhood. Currently Aggie
Village is the only ‘for-sale’ faculty and staff
housing on campus. This small residential area
contains a mixture of building types. There are
traditional detached single family homes, duplexes
and garden cottages. Some faculty and staff reside
in the rental properties near the village square in
West Village. The Faculty and Staff Housing land
use designation includes the individual parcels
associated with the housing as well as the local
streets, parking, and community center. The
faculty and staff housing area at West Village may
also include additional dwelling units for student
families.
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ P R OV I D E A N A F F O R DA B L E A N D
AC C E S S I B L E N E I G H B O R H O O D
Develop a variety of housing options to
accommodate a range of incomes and living
preferences for faculty and staff members;
consider apartment and townhome rentals for
faculty and staff.
■■ I N T E G R AT E C O M M U N I T Y P R O G R A M S
Integrate community programs into the faculty
and staff housing area to create a diverse
residential environment; create a neighborhood
that offers educational and recreational assets
for the larger community.

In 2016-17, less than 100 faculty and staff lived on

campus. The LRDP expands the overall area for
employee housing to accommodate an additional
500 faculty and staff on campus.

76 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


West Village Faculty and Staff Housing
■■ C R E AT E A M O R E S U S TA I N A B L E
NEIGHBORHOOD
Create a sustainable residential neighborhood
that preserves natural resources and
demonstrates the best practices of
environmental stewardship; integrate surface
drainage components throughout the faculty
and staff housing area; consider water recycling
systems for the neighborhood.
C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G
■■ E X PA N D T H E O P E N S PAC E N E T W O R K
Provide gracious open spaces along the
neighborhood edges; integrate open spaces
throughout the neighborhood; provide
neighborhood pocket parks and grand central
greens for the greater community.
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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG

Solar Collector Farm

SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE S U S TA I N A B LE I N F R A S TR U C TU R E L A N D
U S E S P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
LAND USES
■■ H E A LT H Y I N S T I T U T I O N
The infrastructure land uses include four Thoroughly evaluate every infrastructure
designations: Streetscapes and Roadways, system to assure that actions are providing: (1)
Parking, University Airport, and Campus support campus development and expansion,
Utility (Figure 4.4). Each of these designations (2) a healthy operating environment and (3)
represents an important infrastructure component financial and environmental sustainability
of campus. With the exception of the University related to long-term ownership.
Airport, these land use designations represent
networked systems that span other land use
designations. While the Campus Utility land use
designation includes the major components of
campus infrastructure, the alignment of utilities
distribution and collection networks often
coincides with or crosses through other land use
designations.

78 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS


FIGURE 4.4 Sustainable Infrastructure Land Uses
UNIVERSITY AIRPORT
The University Airport land use designation is a
specific land use within the LRDP. The University
Airport is operated by campus as a small utility
airport for the campus community, the City of
Davis and the general public. The LRDP retains the
University Airport consistent with the existing land
use.
U N I V E R S IT Y A I R P O R T
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ PRESERVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH
Preserve opportunities for aeronautics-related
research programs to be accommodated in
University Airport facilities.
C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G
■■ C O O R D I N AT E A I R P O R T O P E R AT I O N S W I T H
E X PA N S I O N O F R E S I D E N T I A L D E V E LO P M E N T
Coordinate airport operations with other
campus developments near the University
Airport; consider alternate flight paths to reduce
environmental impacts on adjacent lands, if
feasible.
■■ F O S T E R M O R E S U S TA I N A B L E L A N D S C A P E S
Manage the landscapes within the University
Airport area as a low-maintenance, drought
tolerance plant community; integrate
ecosystem function where and when
appropriate.
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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
Cyclists riding within a large tree canopy along Hutchison Drive
STREETSCAPES AND ROADWAYS
The Streetscapes and Roadways land use
designation includes most major roadways and
associated streetscapes on campus. The best
streets in the world are most often defined by
landscape elements and contain more than just
roadway surfaces. The streetscapes and roadways
land use designation includes heritage oaks,
dedicated multi-use trails, walkways, wayfinding
elements, sculptures, pedestrian amenities, and
storm water infrastructure. Roadways also include
travel lanes for vehicles and dedicated on-street
bicycle lanes, as well as on-street parking,
medians, crosswalks, and regulatory signage.
Roadways are also the most common location for
the routing of the various campus utilities.
80 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
In 2016-17 the campus maintained more than
125 acres of roadways and streetscapes. The
LRDP expands the overall area for roadways and
streetscapes by 10 acres. The LRDP identifies
the La Rue Road and Hutchison Drive as possible
corridors for improved multi-modal circulation.
Possible alterations to the La Rue Road corridor
would provide more gracious bicycle and
pedestrian elements along the length of the
roadway and reconfigure intersections at Russell
Boulevard, Orchard Road, Hutchison Drive, Garrod
Road, Dairy Road, Bioletti Road and Crocker Lane.
Possible alterations to the Hutchison Drive corridor
would also improve multi-modal functionality and
reconfigure the intersections at County Road 98,
State Route 113, Extension Center Drive and Old
Davis Road.

Painted bike lanes
S TR E E T S C A P E S A N D R OA DWAYS
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ F O S T E R A H E A LT H I E R
T R A N S P O R TAT I O N E C O S YS T E M
Enhance and expand travel services and
programs to meet the daily mobility needs of
the campus community and create a healthier
transportation ecosystem; promote more
sustainable travel choices to improve health
of the individual, the environment and the
institution.
■■ E X PA N D AC T I V E T R A N S P O R TAT I O N
INFRASTRUCTURE
Expand campus infrastructure to support
active transportation; improve safety for both
bicyclists and pedestrians; consider roadway
intersection reconfigurations to minimize
distance of crosswalks; consider roadway
reconfiguration to reduce vehicle speed; clearly
articulate the transitional spaces between
bicycle oriented core campus and the public
streets on the periphery.
C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G
■■ ENHANCE TRANSIT SERVICE
Preserve and enhance transit service; continue
to prioritize and improve transit access to the
core campus area; consider improvements
to the Hutchison Drive corridor for Unitrans
buses and for safely mixing buses, bikes and
pedestrians.
■■ C R E AT E G R E E N S T R E E T S
Foster a healthy, vibrant and resilient urban
forest and tree canopy along all roadways;
integrate storm water facilities within adjacent
landscapes to treat surface runoff from
roadways.
■■ P R E S E R V E F U T U R E R OA DWAY C O R R I D O R S
Anticipate potential alignments for future
campus roadways and bikeways beyond the
life of the plan; keep buildings clear of potential
roadway and bikeway corridors.
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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
FIGURE 4.5 “Heat Map” showing where commuters to UC Davis originate
PARKING
The Parking land use designation includes major
parking infrastructure for all commuters and
visitors traveling to campus (Figure 4.5); parking
lots with fewer than one hundred spaces are not
included in this land use designation and may be
present in other land uses. Parking for campus
housing is included within the residential land use
designations, not the general parking land use
designation. The Parking land use designation
also includes adjacent landscaping as well as the
generation for renewable energy through the
installation of solar arrays.
82 ■ CAMPUS TOMORROW UC DAVIS
In 2016-17 the campus maintained more than 70
acres of parking. The LRDP expands the overall
area for parking by 10 acres, a modest increase
when compared to the potential growth in campus
population. The LRDP contains two additional
parking structures to densify or expand existing
parking inventory. A significant expansion of
parking would most likely increase the number
of vehicles traveling to campus and undermine
the sustainability goals for campus. UC Davis
will develop a business-case analysis for such
structures and demonstrate how a capital
investment in parking aligns with the Climate
Action Plan and the University of California Policy
on Sustainable Practices.

Parking lot solar panels at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
PA R K I N G P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ I N V E S T I N P R O G R A M S B E F O R E PA R K I N G
Invest in transportation programs before
constructing additional parking infrastructure;
offer programs and services that promote
more sustainable travel choices and minimize
impacts to overall parking supply; balance
adequate parking supply with the campus
objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
■■ P R O M OT E R I D E S H A R I N G
Promote carpools and vanpools as viable
transportation options that reduce parking
demand for the campus community; monitor
the utilization of ride-hailing services and
proactively manage campus circulation network
to promote walking, biking and busing as
preferred travel modes.
C HA P T E R 4 : L A N D U SE P L AN N IN G
■■ PA R K O N T H E P E R I P H E RY
Provide parking on the periphery of the core
campus; consider a remote park and bike
facility on Old Davis Road with secure bicycling
parking; locate parking for large public events
near State Route 113 and Interstate 80.
■■ I N T E G R AT E R E N E WA B L E E N E R GY
Integrate renewable energy production,
distribution and storage into parking
infrastructure, when and where appropriate.
■■ FOSTER FLEXIBILIT Y
Foster a flexible and adaptive approach to the
management of parking infrastructure; explore
new and innovative technologies to aid in the
management of parking; routinely evaluate
and dynamically modify parking policy to align
with sustainability goals; consider the formal
designation of areas for ride-hailing pick up and
drop off; build parking lots rather than parking
structures.
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TRAFFIC ANALYSIS APPROACH

For environmental impact review purposes (until the SB 743 CEQA Guidelines are certified),
projects that increase delay by more than 10 percent at an intersection with LOS F operations
may constitute significant impacts. The 10 percent allowance is based on the normal fluctuation
in weekday traffic that occurs and the level of variability associated with traffic forecasts. FHWA
and Caltrans allow for errors between model estimated volumes and traffic counts of up to
10 percent for principal arterials and higher variation for lower functional classes. For stop-
controlled intersections, a significant impact also requires that the intersection delay for all
movements exceeds the LOS F threshold or that the intersection meets the peak hour volume
signal warrant.

Mitigation for significant LOS F impacts should be limited to the following actions:
Transportation demand management strategies that reduce vehicle travel (Priorities should be
given to strategies that improve walking and bicycling and shift trips from private vehicles to
active transportation or transit modes); and TSM actions that improve traffic operations through
traffic control or striping modifications.

Physical pavement expansion for additional travel lanes should be avoided unless the
modification achieves other desired benefits as determined by the University.

State Bill 743 is expected to go into effect during the effective period of this LRDP and will
govern transportation impact expectations for metrics and thresholds once guidelines are
certified by the Natural Resources Agency. Until that time the following expectations have
been set for the use of vehicle level of service (LOS) for on-campus and off-campus traffic
operations.

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OVERALL PARKING STRATEGY

S I N G L E O C C U PA N CY V E H I C L E R E D U C T I O N
Per the University of California Policy on Sustainable Practices, strive to reduce the percentage
of employees and students commuting by single occupancy vehicles (SOV) in 2025 by 10
percent relative to 2015-16 SOV commute rate. By 2050, strive to have no more than 40
percent of employees and no more than 30 percent of all employees and students commuting
by SOV.

V E H I C L E M I L E S T R AV E L E D O B J E C T I V E
Avoid growth in the vehicles miles traveled (VMT) that would exceed the VMT forecasts for the
SACOG Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS).

C A M P U S V E H I C L E T R A F F I C O P E R AT I O N S
Allow vehicle level of service (LOS) F conditions during typical weekday a.m. and p.m. peak
hours as measured by the latest version of the Highway Capacity Manual (Transportation
Research Board). The allowance of LOS F conditions recognizes that the campus does not plan
to expand the roadway system with the exception of modifications for safety, way finding or to
better accommodate bicycle, pedestrian, or transit use.

O F F - C A M P U S V E H I C L E T R A F F I C O P E R AT I O N S
Use local, regional, and state agency expectations about performance of the roadway network
when analyzing potential impacts caused by operation or expansion of the UC Davis campus.
For environmental impact review purposes, specific performance metrics and thresholds for
impact significance should be based on the plans and policies of the affected agency unless
federal or state law requires otherwise. Similar to campus expectations, projects that increase
delay by more than 10 percent at an intersection with unacceptable or LOS F operations may
constitute significant impacts.

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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG

UC Davis Solar Farm

CAMPUS UTILITY C A M PU S UTI LIT Y

The Campus Utility land use designation includes
a domestic water supply system, two separate
irrigation systems for Central Campus landscapes
and agricultural fields, a storm water drainage
system with localized green infrastructure, a
treatment facility for campus sewage, an electrical
system for the production and distribution of
electricity as well as the interconnection with the
main electrical grid and natural gas network, a
remnant landfill, a telecommunication network,
and a heating and cooling system for core campus
that relies upon water as a thermal medium to both
heat and cool buildings. The Campus Utility land
use designation includes all of these systems.
P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ FOSTER RESILIENCY
Foster more resilience systems; expand
renewable energy production on campus;
consider geothermal strategies; create resilient
and secure telecommunications systems for
emergency first responders and the campus
community in general; integrate ecosystem
functions into the treatment of storm water;
explore rainwater collection as an alternative
water source for seasonal irrigation; consider
decentralized utility systems when appropriate.
■■ E N G AG E T H E C O M M U N I T Y
Actively engage the campus community in
the stewardship of shared resources and in
making real and positive change towards a
more sustainable future; when possible design
new infrastructure projects more transparent;
integrate demonstration areas into new
projects for public education and awareness;

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■■ F O S T E R C O N S E R VAT I O N
Provide space for the conversion of the central
heating plant from steam to hot water; consider
water recycling programs to reduce impact
on aquifers and rivers; enhance and expand
programs to divert waste from the land fill;
support campus composting and recycling
programs.
■■ E X PA N D C O R E C A M P U S U T I L I T I E S
Provide space for a possible treatment facility
for water from Lake Berryessa and the Solano
Irrigation District; provide space for the sewage
treatment plant expansion; provide space for
the substation expansion or a new electrical
substation; provide space for another cooling
tower; provide space for the production of
renewable energy.
■■ I N N OVAT E N E W WAYS F O R WA R D
Continue to explore new more sustainable
strategies for the built environment and
demonstrate a clear way towards a more
sustainable future.

TABLE 4-2: LAND USE ACREAGE TOTALS

EXISTING 2018 LRDP NET
L A N D U S E D E S I G N AT I O N AC R E AG E AC R E AG E CHANGE
Academic Space
Academic & Administrative 613.79 688.07 74.28
Teaching & Research Fields 2,885.64 2,757.02 -128.62
Open Space
Arboretum & Public Garden 153.90 190.44 36.54
Putah Creek Riparian Reserve 657.18 661.21 4.03
Campus Recreation & Athletics 115.45 118.93 3.48
Community Gardens 7.03 7.00 -0.03
Undeveloped Open Space 143.02 0.00 -143.02
Residential Space
Student Housing 174.24 216.15 41.91
Faculty & Staff Housing 5.47 58.50 53.03
Infrastructural Space
University Airport 77.92 77.92 0.00
Streetscapes & Roadways 128.87 135.01 6.14
Parking 70.79 82.06 11.27
Campus Utility 245.16 286.15 40.99
Total 5,278.46 5,278.46 0.00
Source: University of California, Davis, 2018

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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
FIGURE 4.6 2016-17 Land Use Map

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 CHAPTER 4: LAND U S E PLA NNI NG
FIGURE 4.7 LRDP Land Use Map

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CHAPTER 5: C O LL A B O RAT I V E PLA NNI NG
 CHAPTER FIVE

COLLABORATIVE PLANNING

UC Davis seeks to build upon the community

engagement associated with the LRDP planning
process and foster collaborative partnerships
with members of our campus community as
well as municipal, county and state governance
and private and public organizations. Moving
forward, UC Davis will continue to foster
partnerships that work across jurisdictional
boundaries and leverage the synergy of shared
objectives.

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 CHAPTER 5: C O LL A B O RAT I V E PLA NNI NG
Construction at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art
CO LL A B O R ATI V E P L A N N I N G O BJ E C TI V E S
■■ I N D I G E N O U S R E L AT I O N S
Regularly engage with Native American tribal
communities to foster mutual understanding
and clear lines of communications; consult
local tribe(s) if and when archaeological
resources are discovered in association with
the development of campus lands.
■■ AC A D E M I C PA R T N E R S H I P S
Foster partnerships with academic sponsors
to adaptively manage campus resources
and encourage the use of campus lands as
a living laboratory in which outdoor learning
compliments the classroom and informs
planning decisions on campus.
■■ P U B L I C PA R T N E R S H I P S
Collaborate with municipal and county
governments and other public agencies
to identify shared objectives and foster
inter-jurisdictional partnerships for a more
sustainable future.
94 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
■■ P R I VAT E PA R T N E R S H I P S
Foster partnerships with philanthropic and non-
profit organizations as well as for-profit private
companies and corporations to create a more
sustainable future.
■■ R E S I D E N T I A L PA R T N E R S H I P S
Partner with local government entities
and engaged stakeholders to foster the
development of adequate, accessible and
affordable housing choices for students, faculty
and staff throughout the region.
■■ T R A N S I T PA R T N E R S H I P S
Strengthen partnerships with local and regional
transit agencies to foster more sustainable
travel choices for the UC Davis community.
■■ S U S TA I N A B L E E C O N O M I C
D E V E LO P M E N T PA R T N E R S H I P S
Foster rich and diverse partnerships
to contribute to sustainable economic
development at the local, regional, state,
national and international levels.

THE CAMPUS OF TOMORROW
The campus of tomorrow begins with Regental
approval of the LRDP. For UC Davis, the campus
of tomorrow is a place where students, faculty,
and staff live, learn and work in an environment
that is beautiful and accessible, functional and
flexible, and sustainable and resilient. It is a place
that fosters research and innovation; it is a place
that grows the most fertile minds for the next
generation of engaged leaders; it is a place that
examines and responds to the most challenging
societal issues; it is a place that inspires. With an
approved LRDP in place, the campus of tomorrow
will emerge on the horizon.
The realization of elements within the LRDP
require coordination with three other documents
also approved by Regents: the Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) for the LRDP, the Physical
Design Framework and the Ten Year Capital
Financial Plan. Together, these planning
documents guide the campus of tomorrow.
The planning guidelines for infill development retain a gracious open space along the campus edge
(illustration looking west across A Street from Third Street)
C HA P T E R 5 : C OL L A B OR AT I V E P L AN N IN G
Individual campus projects are brought forward
for planning, analysis, design and construction
within the framework of the LRDP, the LRDP EIR,
the Physical Design Framework and the Ten
Year Capital Financial Plan. Generally, a project
is initiated with a Project Brief that characterizes
the programmatic scope of the project. Financial
analysis, site suitability scenario planning
follow the initiation of a project. Once a site
has been identified, urban design guidelines
are collaboratively developed with key campus
stakeholders and project design and project-
level environmental review proceed thereafter.
Depending on the total dollar value of a project,
the review and approval process for project
budgets, designs and environmental reviews
are managed by the UC Davis campus, the UC
Office of the President and/or The Regents of the
University of California.
2018 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ■ 95
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
S PE C I A L T H A NK S TO T H E F OL LOW I N G
U C DAV I S O FFI C E S A ND D E PA RT M E N TS

Government and Community Relations

Strategic Communications

Arboretum and Public Garden

Transportation Services

Real Estate Services

Capital and Space Planning

Design and Construction Management

Campus Recreation

Intercollegiate Athletics

Student Housing

Student Affairs

Repro Graphics

Conference and Event Services

UC Davis would also like to thank the many individuals from the community
who thoughtfully shared their concerns; your participation enriched the
planning process and meaningfully improved the plan.

96 ■ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

PREPA RE D BY
Campus Planning & Environmental Stewardship (CPES)
Robert Segar, Associate Vice Chancellor of CPES
Matt Dulcich, Director of Environmental Planning
Christina De Martini Reyes, Campus Landscape Architect
Camille Kirk, Director of Sustainability
Lucas Griffith, Campus Planner
Chris Di Dio, GIS Specialist

WITH AS S I STA NC E FRO M

MIG, Inc.
Daniel Iacofano, Project Director
Dan Amsden, Project Manager
Mukul Malhotra
Fiona Cahill
Steve Kokotas
Ray Bullard
Sarah Raffo
Kim Donahue
Nida Sanger
Christine Santana
Jose de Jesus Leal
Rishi Dhody
Mark Brandi

Fehr & Peers

Bob Grandy
Greg Behrens

Studio E Architects
Eric Naslund
Charity Dunphy

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