I. SITE ASSESSMENT INTRODUCTION

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This study is a part of the UUMP (Unitarian Universalist Master Planning) process that is developing a UUSS campus master plan for the next fifty-year period.   Once completed, the master plan will provide an overall conceptual plan for the phased, full development of the campus as well as detailed recommendations for stewardship of the facilities.  In addition to this assessment study, UUMP’s current work includes dialog with the congregation, committees and staff in establishing the program and priorities that will guide the final plan. 

The master planning process began with the 2002-2004 Long Range Planning Committee that articulated a vision for the UUSS facilities.    The ‘World Café Conversations’, a congregational survey, and the work of subcommittees were a part of this initial phase that was summarized in the document called the 2004 Long Range Plan.

In 2008-09 further steps were taken during congregational workshops (SFTF: ‘Searching for the Future’ and ‘The Next Fifty Years’, and ‘On-site Housing’), and by the formation of a task force (VIA: Vision in Action).  This resulted in the ‘UUSS Campus Development Criteria’ and ‘Building the Future – A Five Year Plan 2009-2013’, that were adopted by the Board and Congregation, and which provide overall guidelines for future changes to the campus.  These workshops also led to the current UUMP process and its two committees for facilitation and oversight.  The Building & Grounds Master Plan process during the 2002-2010 period is well documented on the UUSS website and in a strategy flowchart prepared in March 2010. 

In the third quarter of 2010 the Facilitation Committee retained Jeff Gold & Associates to prepare this comprehensive Site & Building Assessment.    In preparation, the Committee assembled all available documents and studies that had been completed to date.  These included an abbreviated Site Assessment Report in 2009 prepared by members of the committee, and studies prepared by consultants that included an Energy Audit, an Arborist Evaluation, and a structural engineering assessment of the Social Hall.  These studies as well as existing drawing documents are listed in the Appendix of this report.

The Committee directed this current assessment through a detailed outline for the work scope and methodology (see Appendix).  Further discussions between the committee and consultant resulted in a more focused assessment that prioritized five areas for analysis.  These are discussed in the executive summary. 

The following report describe how existing conditions need to be factored into future development of the campus.  As such, it is designed to provide information, analyses and recommendations that will help guide completion of the master plan and stewardship of the facility.