Soka University

* Soka University applauds the public acquisition of Palo Comado Canyon but profoundly disagrees with the assumption in your June 13 editorial (“Introducing Palo Comado Canyon”) that public acquisition of our campus would be “good news.” The seizure of our campus would be terrible news for the public.

The university’s expansion dedicates 500 out of 580 acres as permanent, natural open space--at no cost to the taxpayers. It preserves 99% of the oaks found on campus, does not impact endangered species and maintains the integrity of internal wildlife corridors. The overwhelming majority of natural resources on this campus will be forever protected.

The university’s project, moreover, will pump more than $300 million into the Los Angeles County economy. Seven hundred permanent jobs will be created, including 350 faculty positions. The university anticipates that more than $40 million in payroll and purchasing impact will be added to the local economy each year.

Public acquisition of our campus, on the other hand, would create a significant burden for taxpayers. The $19 million offered to the university by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for 248 acres of its campus is only part of the picture. The university would certainly be entitled to seek damages for the rest of its campus, which would add tens of millions of dollars in acquisition fees.

The university is contributing $700,000 per year to Los Angeles County in property taxes and has proposed to establish a tax assessment district so that the institution pays for its future service needs, such as police, fire, flood control, etc.

The park service, however, doesn’t have to suffer without its much-needed headquarters and visitors center. Soka University has proposed to build one--either on a donated portion of its campus or on some other site in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The National Park Service was offered this property in 1978 and again from 1984-1986, but it never made a formal purchase offer and thus didn’t acquire it when it could have. Soka University now “holds tightly” to its campus, not only because it expects to prevail, but because it is convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that it is on the right side of this debate.

JEFF OURVAN

Director of Community Relations

Soka University, Calabasas