What property have you listed for sale?
We have listed all property east of the airport and Belleau Field. This is land that is non- essential to the core educational mission of the college and is currently not in use by the college. Also, this land is not being planned for use in our long term Campus Master Plan, which extends to 2050. We have, however, received offers for college property that was not included in the listing.
Is it true that you are selling 1,500 acres?
The property listed amounts to about 1,500 acres, but the college’s intention is to only sell a portion of the land. Current offers received are for approximately 600 acres of the college’s 1,860 acres.
As PUC grows, how do we know whether
or not we’ll need more land to expand the campus?
PUC has completed a Campus Master Plan that takes into account all short-term and long- term growth. From classrooms to employee housing to residence halls and parking, the Campus Master Plan covers all the possibili- ties for a student population of about 2,300. Currently, PUC has a little more than 1,500 students on campus. We have been working with an internationally renowned landscape architecture firm (with clients like Stanford University) who has determined that PUC will have more than enough acreage for expansion even if we do sell some land. This especially holds true when comparing the core campus acreage of most colleges and universities across the nation with PUC’s. Additionally, the listed land could never be used for expansion of the main campus as all of it is zoned agricul- tural or ag/watershed.
Will the sale of the listed property cause PUC to be urbanized and surrounded by housing and commercial ventures?
No, this is not the Ecovillage—a project that the Board of Trustees voted to drop more than a year ago. The proposals we have received are much smaller in scope given that all the listed property is zoned agricultural or ag/watershed, which means the land is solely for agricultural purposes. Offers have been made, though,
on land that was not included in the original listing, including some commercial property and sites that Napa County has approved for 191 homes. However, there are no plans for the “urbanization” of Angwin—a notion that is impossible given the strict zoning regulations from the county.
Will there be any restrictions on the sale of the property?
We will have easements and covenants for access to water, roads, trails, and other areas important to the PUC and Angwin community, such as Inspiration Point, Redwood Flats, and the Young Observatory. In addition, 900 acres of forestland will be protected in its natural state. PUC will retain its treasured pristine look and natural environment.
Do you have any offers?
In early 2012, we received three serious offers for the property, and the Board of Trustees is evaluating each proposal now. As of April 2012, we have not accepted an offer.
What do you expect to get out of the purchase in terms of dollar amounts?
The PUC Board of Trustees has an appropriate monetary goal in mind, which is premature to share at this time.
Has PUC considered other options and listened to the views of the community?
Dr. Heather Knight, president of PUC, has had several meetings with members of the community, and she is committed to factoring in their perspectives and concerns. In fact, her conversations with the community were one factor which helped to influence the Board to drop the Ecovillage project. Since her arrival, Dr. Knight has regularly met with the leaders of Save Rural Angwin, keeping them abreast of all the college’s decisions regarding the possible sale of PUC’s property. In those meetings, she was assured by the leaders that SRA did not object to PUC’s right to sell land as private property owners nor did they oppose utilizing the sites Napa County has approved for housing. Dr. Knight also met with local Adventists who offered
to assume responsibility for the college’s commercial businesses and land. But the mere assumption of responsibility for college property—without a concrete plan—does not guarantee a successful solution. It is important to note that the PUC Board of Trustees has fiduciary responsibility for the college, and its membership includes several highly experienced and successful Adventist businesspersons—all of whom have studied PUC’s situation for years.
What will you do with the funds if the property is sold?
If the property is sold, 100% of the net proceeds will go into our endowment in order to provide financial viability for the future. This is a long- term investment for PUC’s future and not a quick fix to pay for routine bills as some have erroneously stated. Some of PUC’s financial goals include the expansion of scholarships for students, increased faculty and staff compensation, debt reduction, and improved campus facilities and infrastructure. These financial goals will be helped by having access to increased earnings made possible by a larger endowment.
With PUC’s enrollment and finances back on the rise, is it necessary to sell assets?
Despite a growing enrollment and a dramatic financial turnaround in the past three years, PUC still needs to be proactive about securing its financial viability for the future. Increased enrollment and philanthropy alone will not be enough, and we must work to grow our endowment.
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