Coastal Commission Tours Soka University

The California Coastal Commission ended its first of four days of meetings this week with a tour of Soka University of America, whose application for expansion is to be heard at the commission’s meeting today.

A dozen commissioners were driven up to Claretville Hill Summit, where university representatives gave them an overview of where the proposed buildings would be and a look at the mountains surrounding the campus.

Because the university is within the area under the commission’s jurisdiction, it needs the body’s approval to implement changes.

The expansion plan, as approved by Los Angeles County, would increase the student population from 350 to 650 students, and over five years, amount to 440,000 square feet of building space, up from 81,300.