TERMS OF COLLEGE LAND DEALS DISCLOSED PARCELS TO BE USED FOR NEW CAMPUS.Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer VALENCIA - The College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. board agreed Wednesday night to disclose the terms of six separate land deals for a Canyon Country campus, even though making the information public could hurt negotiations for a final parcel. The land on Sierra Highway Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. It runs from Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Interstate 5, and continues north to Mojave, mostly paralleling will be combined for construction of the Canyon Country Education Center, a campus to serve the Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Valley's east side. ``Everyone at the last meeting asked for full disclosure,'' trustee Bruce Fortine said. ``Folks, this is a real estate deal. By full disclosure, you're revealing everything you have to the seller, which makes it difficult to negotiate.'' The action was prompted by public outcry at an Aug. 17 special meeting, where trustees voted to censure A formal, public reprimand for an infraction or violation. From time to time deliberative bodies are forced to take action against members whose actions or behavior runs counter to the group's acceptable standards for individual behavior. In the U.S. trustee Ron Gillis for revealing confidential information Noun 1. confidential information - an indication of potential opportunity; "he got a tip on the stock market"; "a good lead for a job" steer, tip, wind, hint, lead on one parcel's appraisal. Speakers at that meeting felt that revealing all the information regarding the property transactions might alleviate the perceived secrecy that resulted in the censure. Once the board voted, college President Dianne Van Hook made a presentation that explained the acquisition process of all parcels being considered for the Canyon Country campus, including the parcel that was the subject of Gillis' censure. She distributed maps of the proposed campus as well as a summary of property purchases. Gillis revealed Aug. 10 that he perceived a $1.2 million disparity between appraisals of the parcel acquired: one at $5 million and another at $6.25 million, which is what the college paid. As Van Hook explained, the $5 million figure came from a review of a $6.25 million appraisal, not an actual appraisal. Additionally, the review considered the entire parcel as residential property instead of for ``mixed use,'' which would affect the property value. ``We could have taken the property at eminent domain eminent domain, the right of a government to force the owner of private property sell it if it is needed for a public use. The right is based on the doctrine that a sovereign state has dominion over all lands and buildings within its borders, which has its origins in , but that's not a good way to start our relationship with Canyon Country,'' trustee Michelle Jenkins said. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. state regulations, confidentiality may be maintained when a series of real estate parcels are being obtained until the last parcel closes escrow. Of the seven properties involved in the college's expansion, one was abandoned because of potential soil contamination Soil contamination is the presence of man-made chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of underground storage tanks, application of pesticides, percolation of contaminated surface water to and the seventh, a 16.3-acre parcel listed at $4 million, is currently in negotiation. To date, the college has spent $9.9 million to purchase property for the east side educational center that is expected to accommodate 4,700 students on opening day, projected for August 2006. ``When the founders master-planned this (Valencia) campus, they did it for 5,000 students,'' Van Hook said. ``Today, we have 17,000 and we could get to 32,000. At the Canyon Country center, we could accommodate 10,000 students.'' Carol Rock, (661) 257-5252 carol.rock(at)dailynews.com |
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