Public Relations
Angwin Rallies in Support of PUC
Hundreds of Angwin residents and PUC students, faculty and high-level leadership today attended a joint meeting of the County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission in a show of strong support for the College and preservation of the Angwin urban bubble.
Hundreds of Angwin residents and PUC students, faculty and high-level leadership today attended a joint meeting of the County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission in a show of strong support for the College and preservation of the Angwin urban bubble.
College officials presented a petition with more than 1,500 signatures to the Board of Supervisors in support of the 125-year-old institution and its efforts to preserve the bubble, an area within their property designated by the county for development.
Thomas J. Mostert, Jr., President, Pacific Union College Board of Trustees, said changes to the bubble would harm PUC. “Doing so would cause the College financial losses, would diminish PUC’s flexibility to plan for its future, and would place a substantial burden on the religious exercise of this Adventist institution by leaving the College with no viable choice but to allow the development of land removed from the bubble for the production of wine grapes,” he said.
“Angwin is energized to support PUC and our private property rights,” said Dr. Richard Osborn, President, PUC. “The very survival of PUC is dependent upon our ability to use our largest asset, our land, to support the mission of our college for the next hundred years.”
County officials have been collecting public input on the impact of changing the Angwin urban bubble as part of their efforts on the County’s General Plan Update, which focuses on balancing housing, agriculture, open space and other issues. Since 1975, the General Plan has designated the Angwin urban bubble for development and stated that it “will continue to support this time-honored institution and employer.”
Dr. Osborn echoed that point by noting that throughout Napa County more than 1,000 PUC graduates currently occupy positions of service, rank and trust. “It is our deepest hope to continue our mission to prepare students for productive lives of useful human service and uncompromising personal integrity,” he said. “The county should not rewrite 30 years of County policy at the sole expense of PUC.”
PUC has already lost 300 acres of development potential as a result of the adoption of the 1984 General Plan. Altering the bubble would prevent PUC from using its land to grow its endowment, hampering the college’s ability to provide for its financial future.
“The Board of Supervisors should consider the College’s proposal for an Angwin ecovillage on its own merits in 2008, and stop attempts to misuse the General Plan process to terminate the project without an EIR or a fair hearing,” said Mr. Mostert.
PUC is in the midst of entitlements to create an Angwin Ecovillage to increase its endowment to improve college facilities, provide new student and faculty housing, fund student scholarships, and offer more competitive academic and staff salaries.
“The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to proceed with the ecovillage because we believe it will be good for PUC, good for Angwin, and good for the Napa Valley. We made that decision only after much study, thought and prayer, and trust that you will give the proposal equally careful consideration,” added Mr. Mostert.
The ecovillage is a state-of-the-art “green” community. The small community includes 380 affordable, local preference and market rate homes on 17.5 acres of new development. That is less than 1% of PUC’s 1,900 acres of privately owned lands. Another 56 acres of redevelopment are planned where existing structures are already located. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Report will study transportation, water, sewer and other required elements. It will be completed in late 2008.
There is a long list of sustainable attributes for the ecovillage. Some include cutting-edge green design and construction, solar and geothermal power for all homes and businesses, water and energy conservation measures, green transportation alternatives and preservation of forest, trail and open space. It also includes a village square with new community-serving retail and professional services and safe walking and bicycling paths.
College officials presented a petition with more than 1,500 signatures to the Board of Supervisors in support of the 125-year-old institution and its efforts to preserve the bubble, an area within their property designated by the county for development.
Thomas J. Mostert, Jr., President, Pacific Union College Board of Trustees, said changes to the bubble would harm PUC. “Doing so would cause the College financial losses, would diminish PUC’s flexibility to plan for its future, and would place a substantial burden on the religious exercise of this Adventist institution by leaving the College with no viable choice but to allow the development of land removed from the bubble for the production of wine grapes,” he said.
“Angwin is energized to support PUC and our private property rights,” said Dr. Richard Osborn, President, PUC. “The very survival of PUC is dependent upon our ability to use our largest asset, our land, to support the mission of our college for the next hundred years.”
County officials have been collecting public input on the impact of changing the Angwin urban bubble as part of their efforts on the County’s General Plan Update, which focuses on balancing housing, agriculture, open space and other issues. Since 1975, the General Plan has designated the Angwin urban bubble for development and stated that it “will continue to support this time-honored institution and employer.”
Dr. Osborn echoed that point by noting that throughout Napa County more than 1,000 PUC graduates currently occupy positions of service, rank and trust. “It is our deepest hope to continue our mission to prepare students for productive lives of useful human service and uncompromising personal integrity,” he said. “The county should not rewrite 30 years of County policy at the sole expense of PUC.”
PUC has already lost 300 acres of development potential as a result of the adoption of the 1984 General Plan. Altering the bubble would prevent PUC from using its land to grow its endowment, hampering the college’s ability to provide for its financial future.
“The Board of Supervisors should consider the College’s proposal for an Angwin ecovillage on its own merits in 2008, and stop attempts to misuse the General Plan process to terminate the project without an EIR or a fair hearing,” said Mr. Mostert.
PUC is in the midst of entitlements to create an Angwin Ecovillage to increase its endowment to improve college facilities, provide new student and faculty housing, fund student scholarships, and offer more competitive academic and staff salaries.
“The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to proceed with the ecovillage because we believe it will be good for PUC, good for Angwin, and good for the Napa Valley. We made that decision only after much study, thought and prayer, and trust that you will give the proposal equally careful consideration,” added Mr. Mostert.
The ecovillage is a state-of-the-art “green” community. The small community includes 380 affordable, local preference and market rate homes on 17.5 acres of new development. That is less than 1% of PUC’s 1,900 acres of privately owned lands. Another 56 acres of redevelopment are planned where existing structures are already located. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Report will study transportation, water, sewer and other required elements. It will be completed in late 2008.
There is a long list of sustainable attributes for the ecovillage. Some include cutting-edge green design and construction, solar and geothermal power for all homes and businesses, water and energy conservation measures, green transportation alternatives and preservation of forest, trail and open space. It also includes a village square with new community-serving retail and professional services and safe walking and bicycling paths.