Finding Higher Ground
From March 2006
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Even before Eli Broad made the offer of free land, CSUS of?cials were exploring the possibility of launching a satellite in southwest Placer County. “I think all the arrows were pointing there, anyway,” Sheley says, “because, for the most part, CSUS is full.”
Although the university was designed for 25,000 full-time students, Sheley estimates it now has closer to 29,000 enrolled, with classrooms, labs, parking and housing facilities nearly maxed out. “Southwest Placer is booming economically and demographically, so putting a campus there is the right thing to do, anyway,” he says.
Broad’s plan includes a 290-acre campus that eventually could accommodate 25,000 students; 6,793 residential units, including campus-related housing; 776 acres of business park, light industrial, of?ce professional, and commercial uses; plus 275 acres for parks, landscape corridors, open space, two new elementary schools and a new middle school. The release of the ?nal draft environmental impact report is scheduled for June 30.
“Not only is the university an allowable use within the plan, it is a huge asset to us in attracting other businesses and companies to the area,” says Ed Graves, Placer’s economic development director. “The growth is being planned around the university to make sure that the development that occurs pays for itself, maximizing its value to the community.”
Broad and Tsakopoulos are known for their generous philanthropy, especially in the area of education. Placer County of?cials Fred Yeager, director of planning, Robert Weygandt, county supervisor, former supervisor Rex Bloom?eld and some grassroots citizens’ groups voiced concerns about residential growth spreading into agricultural zones, even if it came with free land for a university. Others searched for attached strings, such as relaxation of development standards on this or future development projects. Alfred “Bud” Nobili, Placer’s superintendent of schools, simply saw an opportunity that was too good to ignore.
The plan to attract a private university to the Sacramento Metro Market was presented to Nobili by representatives of Tsakopoulos’ AKT Development ?ve years ago. “The idea had been brought to them by attorney Robert Holderness, a former mayor of Folsom, counsel for AKT Development and a long-time proponent of a private university in the region,” Nobili recalls. “I thought it was a great idea.”
He banded together with Holderness and other supporters and stakeholders, forming the Regional University Committee. The group includes Kyriakos Tsakopoulos, Angelo’s son, who is president and CEO of KT Communities, the development company handling the regional-university project. The RUC team spread the word that Placer County had a deal waiting for just the right institution.
Let’s Make a Deal
Continued...
Although the university was designed for 25,000 full-time students, Sheley estimates it now has closer to 29,000 enrolled, with classrooms, labs, parking and housing facilities nearly maxed out. “Southwest Placer is booming economically and demographically, so putting a campus there is the right thing to do, anyway,” he says.
Broad’s plan includes a 290-acre campus that eventually could accommodate 25,000 students; 6,793 residential units, including campus-related housing; 776 acres of business park, light industrial, of?ce professional, and commercial uses; plus 275 acres for parks, landscape corridors, open space, two new elementary schools and a new middle school. The release of the ?nal draft environmental impact report is scheduled for June 30.
“Not only is the university an allowable use within the plan, it is a huge asset to us in attracting other businesses and companies to the area,” says Ed Graves, Placer’s economic development director. “The growth is being planned around the university to make sure that the development that occurs pays for itself, maximizing its value to the community.”
Broad and Tsakopoulos are known for their generous philanthropy, especially in the area of education. Placer County of?cials Fred Yeager, director of planning, Robert Weygandt, county supervisor, former supervisor Rex Bloom?eld and some grassroots citizens’ groups voiced concerns about residential growth spreading into agricultural zones, even if it came with free land for a university. Others searched for attached strings, such as relaxation of development standards on this or future development projects. Alfred “Bud” Nobili, Placer’s superintendent of schools, simply saw an opportunity that was too good to ignore.
The plan to attract a private university to the Sacramento Metro Market was presented to Nobili by representatives of Tsakopoulos’ AKT Development ?ve years ago. “The idea had been brought to them by attorney Robert Holderness, a former mayor of Folsom, counsel for AKT Development and a long-time proponent of a private university in the region,” Nobili recalls. “I thought it was a great idea.”
He banded together with Holderness and other supporters and stakeholders, forming the Regional University Committee. The group includes Kyriakos Tsakopoulos, Angelo’s son, who is president and CEO of KT Communities, the development company handling the regional-university project. The RUC team spread the word that Placer County had a deal waiting for just the right institution.
Let’s Make a Deal
Continued...
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