Public Relations
Six Hundred Sign Petition in Support of PUC
Pacific Union College today submitted a 600-signature petition to the Napa County Planning Commission in support of the college and its efforts to preserve the Angwin Urban Bubble, an area within their property designated by the county for development.
Pacific Union College today submitted a 600-signature petition to the Napa County Planning Commission in support of the college and its efforts to preserve the Angwin Urban Bubble, an area within their property designated by the county for development.
“It is clear that a large number of people believe that altering the Angwin Urban Bubble would be detrimental to the college and that it should not be manipulated,” said Dr. Richard Osborn, President, PUC. “Ultimately, any changes made to the bubble infringe on our private property rights and eliminate our ability to grow our endowment to secure our financial future.”
Commissioners have been listening to residents at recent public meetings about 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.”
PUC has said that a decision to reduce the bubble is such a departure from County policy, and will be so harmful to the college, that the fate of the bubble should be left in the hands of the County Board of Supervisors, who are accountable to the voters. PUC has already lost 300 acres of development potential as a result of the adoption of the 1984 General Plan.
Dozens of speakers have told commissioners that changing the bubble would be detrimental to PUC, Napa County and the General Plan Update process. Most focused on how 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.
PUC is in the midst of entitlement efforts 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 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.
“It is clear that a large number of people believe that altering the Angwin Urban Bubble would be detrimental to the college and that it should not be manipulated,” said Dr. Richard Osborn, President, PUC. “Ultimately, any changes made to the bubble infringe on our private property rights and eliminate our ability to grow our endowment to secure our financial future.”
Commissioners have been listening to residents at recent public meetings about 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.”
PUC has said that a decision to reduce the bubble is such a departure from County policy, and will be so harmful to the college, that the fate of the bubble should be left in the hands of the County Board of Supervisors, who are accountable to the voters. PUC has already lost 300 acres of development potential as a result of the adoption of the 1984 General Plan.
Dozens of speakers have told commissioners that changing the bubble would be detrimental to PUC, Napa County and the General Plan Update process. Most focused on how 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.
PUC is in the midst of entitlement efforts 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 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.