Plan to Expand Soka University Criticized

About a dozen people blasted plans to expand Soka University at a Planning Commission hearing held in downtown L.A. Wednesday.

Opponents complained that the planned development is too large and that other sites for the school were not adequately investigated.

The hearing, devoted to opponents of the university expansion, was the final meeting scheduled before the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission reserved for public comment.

Proponents of the project testified before the commission earlier this week.

Expanding the size and increasing the number of students at Soka has been a controversial issue since 1990. Earlier this summer, Soka settled lawsuits with Los Angeles County and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy over the university’s previous expansion efforts, which led to the current plan.

That agreement, however, led to several tense moments between Soka’s opponents and Planning Commission members.

“Are you obligated to approve this project?” Jill Swift, who lives near the university, asked the commission.

In response, commission member Richard C. Wulliger erupted: “What kind of question is that? We consider each project . . . by its own merits. To suggest anything else is grossly insulting.”

After several minutes, during which Swift apologized, the meeting continued.

Other opponents said that Soka’s Orange County college had not been properly considered for the site of the proposed expansion, and criticized the plans for new building as “urbanizing” the area.