Senate Vote Opens Door for Agencies to Seize Soka Land

The U.S. Senate has voted to permit Santa Monica Mountains park agencies to try to acquire Soka University’s mountain campus near Calabasas through condemnation proceedings, but only if Soka fails to obtain a zoning change that would allow it to build a major college.

In a separate development that indicates growing local opposition, the Calabasas City Council is expected to approve a resolution Wednesday opposing Soka’s expansion plans. The city of Malibu already has passed a similar resolution.

The university wants to grow from a 100-student English-language school for Japanese students into a 4,400-student liberal arts college.

The Senate action Thursday wiped out a provision in the 1992 Senate Interior appropriations bill--inserted at the request of Soka’s lobbyists--that would have prevented park agencies from using condemnation to acquire 248 acres of Soka’s scenic property as a visitors center and headquarters for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

The amendment was sponsored by California’s senators, Democrat Alan Cranston and Republican John Seymour. Cranston aides described it as a compromise between the California lawmakers and Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Byrd reportedly was concerned that Los Angeles County might grant Soka the zoning change it seeks to build the liberal arts campus--increasing the value of the land--and making it more expensive for parks agencies to acquire. The amendment would permit condemnation for Santa Monicas land acquisition only if zoning permits and variances for the property do not change.

Soka’s zoning change application, submitted to the county May 2, is pending. The university would also need zoning approval from the California Coastal Commission.

“This amendment is just what the doctor ordered,” said Joseph T. Edmiston, executive director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. “It sends two messages: No. 1 to Los Angeles County that the U.S. Senate is sick and tired of the up-zoning game, and second to Soka that it’s not going to tie the park agency’s hands behind its back.”

Soka spokeswoman Bernetta Reade said, “The university has always said that condemnation was inappropriate where there are willing sellers,” such as other property owners in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The university has refused to sell nearly half of its 580-acre property despite pressure by state and federal park authorities.

The newly incorporated city of Calabasas is located a quarter-mile north of the university, and city officials said they are concerned about the effects of the project, particularly on local roads. Four of the five City Council members said Friday in interviews that they oppose the university’s plans.

“The reasons I’m opposed have nothing to do with the students being Asian--I’d feel the same way, being Jewish, if Yeshiva University wanted to build up there,” Councilwoman Karyn Foley said. “The point is Las Virgenes Road cannot handle any more traffic.”

“The reason we became a city is to take control from the county of what goes on in our area, and now to have something like this right on our boundaries doesn’t set well,” Councilman Bob Hill said.

Soka spokeswoman Reade said the council should not take a stand on the project until the school finishes preparing an environmental report. Soka officials will present their proposal to the council at Wednesday’s meeting, she said.

Alan C. Miller reported from Washington and Tracey Kaplan from Los Angeles.