Soka University and Parklands

On behalf of Soka University, I am writing in response to your “Park the Expansion Elsewhere” (editorial, May 2).

First, we are hard-pressed to understand how the land in question can be described as “parkland” as the editorial states. True, Soka University owns 580 acres of land within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. However, our property has always been privately owned (as is most of the property within the National Recreational Area), and for more than 60 years there has been development throughout our land. Portions of our property have been used for agricultural, residential, educational and religious purposes. Actually, as late as 1975, the “Thomas Brothers Guide” maps for this area also show the existence of an airstrip on the site. Notwithstanding these previous uses, the university recognizes the value of the environmental resources on the site and has designed its expansion in a way to protect and preserve them.

Second, The Times reported that the university had rejected two of three exchange parcels submitted by the park agencies. In fact, the university has rejected all three parcels after extensive research of their potential as sites for a university campus.

A review of the rejection rationale submitted to the park agencies, with copies sent to your newspaper, would have revealed that the size of the parcels was not the university’s sole cause for rejection. The existence of ground-water contamination, active fault lines, unavailability of water and sewer service, lack of legally adequate site access and failure to meet the five criteria submitted by the university to the park agencies in December were all causes for rejection. Additionally, none of the sites presented are owned by the park agencies, making the probability of an “exchange” tenuous at best. Finally, the third site, Camarillo State Hospital, was particularly troubling in that it would have necessitated relocating the 1,500-plus patients elsewhere; a prospect which seemed highly questionable.

Third, the editorial suggests that ownership of the property by the parks is the only way it will be accessible to the public. A review of the joint use proposal submitted by the university to the park agencies would show that the university intends to donate to these agencies 71 acres of land designated by the Coastal Commission as “visitor serving commercial,” thereby preserving it for open space.

In addition we have proposed to build a park visitor/headquarters facility on the site and provide an endowment for its maintenance, responding to goals stated by park agency representatives in the past. Furthermore, much-needed trail linkages would be provided for the public’s use.

Finally, the university is committed to keeping a substantial portion of the remaining 519 acres as open space. This land would be available to the public, with the university providing ongoing stewardship of the property. We feel that this proposal offers the best use of our campus by the public, parks and university.

Soka University has submitted documents to Los Angeles County initiating the permit process for our campus expansion. The environmental review process that will occur over the ensuing months will determine to what degree there is room on this site for both ourselves and the parks without causing undue consequences to the surrounding community or environment. Soka University is committed to developing our campus only to the extent that is deemed acceptable by a rational, dignified public planning process.

JEFF OURVAN

Manager, Community Relations

Soka University

Los Angeles