Input sought on environmental review of proposed land-use change

In support of offering more housing for UC Santa Cruz students, the campus is looking at changing the land-use designation for 14 acres on the west side of campus.

The land, between Family Student Housing and Porter College, is designated Campus Resource Land and needs to be changed to Colleges and Student Housing to be part of the student housing initiative. As part of the process, the campus is preparing an environmental impact report to analyze the potential impacts of a land-use change.

The first step is to develop a scope for the environmental review, and the campus is seeking input into what needs to be evaluated as part of the environmental impact report.

Members of the public can learn more online, and submit feedback by emailing eircomment@ucsc.edu.

The campus will host an information session on the student housing initiative and scoping meeting for the environmental impact report from 6–8 p.m. on May 4 at the Santa Cruz Police Community Room, 155 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

Under a University of California student housing initiative, UC Santa Cruz is looking to add up to 3,000 beds for upper-division students, students with families, and graduate students. The campus is working to deliver the beds through a public-private partnership with the first ones available by 2020.

The 6 p.m. information session will provide an overview of the housing initiative, the planning studies that have led to the selection of the site, and the environmental review process. Campus representatives will answer questions at the end.

The 7 p.m. scoping session will provide an opportunity for members of the public to offer comment to be part of the formal record.