The Oxford Twp. Trustees held a special meeting last Tuesday night in which Miami University representatives presented their vision for development of the university’s Oxford campus.

Miami University Associate Vice-President for Facilities Robert Keller gave the presentation. Also present was university Dr. David Creamer, vice president for Finance and Business Services and treasurer. About 20 township residents and township trustees Larry Frimerman, Gary Salmon and John Kinne were in attendance.

Keller talked about four focus areas of university planning: housing and dining, circulation (on foot, bicycle, bus and car), water (storm, potable and steam) and utilities.

He explained that teaching needs and student expectations have changed over the years. He also said he university prioritizes such things as student safety, being a good steward of environmental resources and reducing costs.

The university’s total Oxford student enrollment is about 16,000, and enrollment is expected to remain at that level or grow by, at most, 1,500 students over the next 15 years, Keller said.

The average age of the university’s 41 residence halls is about 60 years. They have 7,200 beds and Miami officials expect the number to remain constant even though they may build an additional three residence halls on Western Campus.

Keller also noted that geothermal wells will provide energy on Western campus; circulation plans are to direct student foot traffic to the intersection of Spring and Patterson streets, where there are signals, a new dining hall on Western campus will have a vegetated roof, and retention ponds will hold storm water until it can be used for irrigation.

In a question-and-answer period, Creamer and Keller made it clear that the university is planning to discourage the use of automobiles on campus and has no plans to build additional parking to accommodate future vehicular growth.

Creamer and Keller also indicated that the university has no plans to develop its property away from campus, such as the Nike base or the Bachelor Reserve. They further clarified that Miami no longer plans to place a bridge over Four Mile Creek west of Yager Stadium for access, nor does it have plans to create a road from Ohio 73 to Bonham Road near the creek.

On behalf of the trustees, Frimerman, the Oxford Twp. Trustees president, thanked the Miami representatives for their openness as well as the thoroughness and care with which they presented their plans. He offered the Miami representatives an opportunity for future partnerships and discussions.