Cal Poly Humboldt officials presented an update on Dec. 17 to the Arcadia City Council on a phased plan to bring utilities and pedestrian connections to the university’s Foster property.

Mike Fisher, acting vice president for administration and finance at Cal Poly Humboldt, said the current effort is a modest, infrastructure‑first step — what he repeatedly called “phase 0” — intended to provide power, water, sewer and basic pedestrian and bicycle access for a portion of the larger Foster 2000 site. Fisher said the project currently occupies “about a quarter of the total, Foster 2000 site” and is undergoing the California Environmental Quality Act review and public comment process.

Fisher described design changes driven by community input, including plans to introduce a class‑1 trail using an existing rail easement, improve visibility at existing driveway access points and explore shuttle options sized to minimize neighborhood impacts. He said larger elements — including a possible vehicular realignment or bridge across the slough — remain conceptual and would require separate funding and permitting.

Residents who live near the Foster property told the council they felt outreach had been inadequate and raised safety concerns about local streets. “It’s very dangerous. I’ve almost been hit by a car with my dog,” said Britney Villagran, a nearby veterinarian who said she and dozens of neighbors had not been informed and opposed frequent shuttle traffic on narrow roads.

Council members pressed staff and university representatives on trail alignments and phasing; consultants and Cal Poly Humboldt stressed the current scope is intentionally limited to early infrastructure and that any larger bridge or roadway work would be a later phase requiring substantial funding. No formal action or vote was taken by the council on the Foster project at the meeting.

What happens next: Cal Poly Humboldt will continue the CEQA process and public outreach reported to have prompted design revisions; the council and staff flagged the need for continued coordination on traffic, lighting and wetland mitigation as the project advances.