UW branch campus: 73 sites to choose from

Fifty-nine of the 73 sites proposed for a new University of Washington branch campus are in Snohomish County.

And the locations are all over the map, literally, in the three-county area where the campus will be built.

They are as far-flung as Mountlake Terrace and Sultan to the south and east and Sedro- Woolley in Skagit County and Oak Harbor in Island County to the north.

Snohomish County residents can get a better idea of what sites are on the table at a town hall meeting in Stanwood on Tuesday night. There will also be a briefing on the academic programs being considered and how a final site recommendation will be made.

"We had a good variation of sites," said Martin Regge, a consultant with NBBJ, which was hired by the state to guide the site selection process.

Parcels range from 1 acre to 1,200 acres. Six sites are in Arlington, five in Everett and three in Marysville. Thirty-nine sites are in unincorporated Snohomish County.

Land offerings came from private landowners, real estate agents, cities, counties and a state agency.

Several cities are making a push. Everett and Stanwood were among the first, but others - such as Marysville and a coalition of east county cities - emerged with proposals before the deadline.

Regge said the search team has been visiting sites. Some will be eliminated quickly because they don't meet first-cut criteria, such as acreage needs.

"Filtering through 73 is a difficult task but it's not impossible," Regge said.

The search team must come up with a recommended site and alternative sites for Gov. Chris Gregoire by Nov. 15.

In April, the state approved spending $4 million to help launch a branch campus.

Of that, NBBJ received a $1 million contract to analyze land options and recommend a site for a permanent college. The firm will also suggest an interim location where classes for upper-division students can be offered in fall 2008.

State officials say finding the site is only part of the ongoing work. Defining the role of the branch campus is also important.

"I think right now what people can wrap their arms around is: Where's it going to be?" said Deb Merle, higher education policy adviser to the governor. "We are trying to get people to think about what's it going to be."

Randy Hodgins, the UW's director of state relations, agreed.

"I think for the University of Washington the most important work we are doing is related to the academic planning for the campus," he said.

The UW is looking to have some traditional degree programs with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math.

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.