Joe Brucia: Council should take time to research what works in a college town

Recently the Merced City Council has made some difficult decisions regarding apartments for college students. With the growth of UC Merced, tough decisions will continue to be made. So far, most city council deliberations have only been about city codes, rights of landowners to build on their properties and neighborhood input.

I don’t know the best locations for Merced’s college apartments, but more will be built. Perhaps a few fact-finding trips by city officials will ease the burden of these important decisions. After all, their votes will affect our town for years to come. By visiting a few select college towns one can view new and old apartment complexes, meet with college housing administrators, local police/fire departments and local/college transportation officials. In some cities they might even hear about beer cans being tossed along residential streets, late-night erratic student driving, parking on lawns and loud weekend disturbances.

Finding out what works and doesn’t work can always help in making sound decisions. I am sure city council members have now concluded that placement of college apartments will indeed be more difficult than locating shopping centers.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Joe Brucia: Council should take time to research what works in a college town."