The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Diegito (UUFSD) is sited on several acres of relatively undeveloped land in Solana Beach, California. The UUFSD Buildings and Grounds committee (UUBG) is responsible for the physical property: landscape, hardscape, buildings and furnishings. UUBG is a permanent committee which reports to the UUFSD board of directors. One member of the board is identified as the liason to UUBG.
UUBG is primarily responsible for maintenance, repair and minor improvement projects on the UUFSD site. We cooperate with similar efforts by the Sandy Hill Nursery School which operates on site during the week.
Capital improvements involving fundraising campaigns, building permits and professional design services are the purview of the UUFSD Design Review Committee. UUBG confers with the Design Review Committee regarding aesthetic considerations as they arise.
The site was donated to UUFSD by Andy Kay in ?1960 as a plot of undeveloped land. The terms of the donation preclude mortgaging the property itself. The responsibilities of UUBG have evolved as the property has been developed. Over time the structures have become more sophisticated. We define two generations of development.
The first generation of structures were single story, wood construction, intended for weekly use by UUFSD and daily use by children and staff of Sandy Hill nursery. These structures were designed, built, paid for and maintained by members of the congregation:
- Amphitheater excavated, stone walls, brick paving
- Core area excavated, concrete slab walls, brick paving
- Kiosk - storage at rear of the amphitheater
- Kitchen & restrooms in the core area
- Searcher's Hall for meetings or rainy day worship
- Footprints classroom
- Treetops classroom
- YRUU classroom
- Pinecones classroom
- Playground
- Toolshed (contract construction much later)
- Permanent seating in amphitheater
- Painted picnic tables and benches in core area
- Play equipment at playground and classrooms
- Built-in sunshades, closets, cabinets, shelves
- Desks, chairs, file cabinets
In 1984 the Fellowship called it's first minister and the YRUU classroom was converted to serve as her office. Thus began the "re-purposing" of structures for daily adult use by UUFSD. A decade later the "Decisions for Growth" process led to a second generation of structures at UUFSD. These were designed by noted architect Rob Quigley and professionally constructed of wooden beams, concrete, steel and glass:
- Founders' Hall (FH)
- Palmer Library (PL) with restrooms, janitor's closet
- Bridges to the amphitheater (handicap accessible)
- Parking expansion with retaining walls
Funding included a significant mortgage under special terms from the UUA. As a cost-saving measure, volunteers from the fellowship participated in the finish work on these structures. Furnishings included:
- ?150? nesting chairs (FH)
- Professional audio system (FH)
- Grand piano (FH)
- Acoustic treatment (FH)
- Some stage lighting (FH)
- Built-in book cases (PL)
- Rolling fold-out tables (PL)
- New counter tops and cabinets (Kitchen)
- Convert old restrooms to nursery
- Cedar picnic tables & benches (Core area)
The YRUU classroom reverted to its original purpose as the minister's office was moved to the larger Searcher's Hall and includes workspace for additional staff: Administrator, Treasurer, Director of Religious Education, Music Director.
UUFSD Buildings and Grounds Committee is organized as a central steering committee and several working groups.
The Steering Committee includes the B&G committee chair and leaders of the working groups. Its function is primarily managerial:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Resources
- Documentation
- Special Projects
Working groups are intent on getting things done. Four permanent groups focus on these areas of skilled interest:
- Landscape - Planting, pruning, irrigation and erosion control
- Hardscape - Retaining walls, paths, patios and parking
- Structures - Buildings, bridges
- Furnishings - Benches, tables, umbrellas, cabinets,furniture
In addition, ad hoc groups may emerge, as needed, under the auspices of the Steering Committee to address special topics.