Updates
Results of February 26, 2008 County Meeting
Thanks to everyone's efforts, Pacific Union College is able to retain our property rights. Your letters to the Napa County Board of Supervisors, along with the approximately 700 PUC supporters at the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission joint meeting, had a significant impact on the outcome.
Decisions related to Angwin made during February 26 meeting:
Majority members of both the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors stated that it was not appropriate to consider the institutional zoning proposal during the General Plan Update. Therefore, the proposal did not gain any traction.
The Planning Commission voted on whether to recommend to the Board of Supervisors to pull the ag-land out of the Angwin Urban Bubble. The vote passed on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Rich Jager being the dissenting vote.
The Board of Supervisors then took up the issue with Supervisor Diane Dillon making a motion, seconded by Brad Wagenknecht, to pull the ag-land out of the bubble. The motion failed on a 2-3 vote.
Bill Dodd made the motion to keep the bubble intact. The motion passed on a 3-2 vote with Dodd, Luce and Moskowite voting for it. Over the next couple of years, the county will be looking at all twelve urban bubbles along with comprehensive housing needs for the county. During this process, there will be no development allowed on ag land within any the bubbles until they can all be addressed. After determining housing needs, the county will make a decision on how to deal with ag land within the bubbles.
This is great news for PUC although we know there is a lot of difficult work yet to be done. Everyone's participation in this political debate has helped to protect our property rights and allow us the ability to pursue options for securing our future.
Thank you for your enthusiasm for PUC and for taking the initiative to speak out for our college. The level of support from the college, community, and members of the Adventist Church was memorable and touching. Thank you for writing, attending, and making your voice heard.
Project Timeline
June 20, 2006
PUC Board of Trustees votes to finalize negotiations with Triad Communities to explore
opportunities for developing a portion of the college's property in Angwin.
July 5, 2006
Board unanimously approves an agreement with Triad for developing a portion of the
college's property. Agreement, however, does not include specifics on how the land will
be developed. Details of plan will be determined, in part, during a six-month refinement
period, during which Triad will meet with Angwin residents gather input on how to best
build the community.
Fall 2006
College begins holding private and public meetings with residents.
January 8, 2007
College announces series of public meetings to collect feedback on ecovillage project.
Unveils preliminary concepts to public, including plans for - houses.
April 2007
Triad and PUC holds two public meetings to present the revised ecovillage project, which
includes 200 less housing units and the elimination of development plans on any land
zoned agricultural.
July 18, 2007
Triad and PUC file project application for ecovillage with Napa County.
August 2007
County holds multiple public meetings discussing the elimination of the Angwin Urban
Bubble, an infringement of PUC property rights
PUC collects more than 1,500 signatures from Angwin and college community supporting preservation of bubble.
October 16, 2007
Joint Meeting of Napa County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to discuss Urban Bubble is held in Napa. PUC Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff vote to cancel classes to allow campus to attend meeting. More than 600 attend meeting with majority being PUC supporters.
Majority supervisors (3-2) advocate adjustment to bubble but not total elimination. No vote taken.
Early 2008
Save Rural Angwin (SRA) proposes new land-use designation called "private institutional zoning." Designation would target all Planned Development zoned lands within Angwin Urban Bubble to be used only for campus improvements, staff housing, and agriculture.
February 2008
Alan J. Reinach, Esq., president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Council, hears about SRA zoning proposal and determines that it violates college's rights to equal treatment under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA).
Jim Pedersen, president of the Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, approves mailing from PUC and Reinach, asking church members to write letters of support for PUC's rights. Student Senate coordinates letter writing campaign among students.
February 26, 2008
Joint meeting of the Napa County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors is held in Yountville. PUC Board, faculty, and staff vote to cancel classes once more. More than 800 attend; majority are PUC supporters. Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission dismiss Private Institutional Zoning proposal. Board of Supervisors vote to keep Angwin Urban Bubble intact for General Plan Update with plans to examine all 12 county bubbles in the future.