The Placer County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a resolution supporting the establishment of a private university west of Roseville.
The board will take final action -- probably in December -- on a plan by Drexel University of Philadelphia to build a university on 1,157 acres of land donated by developer Angelo K. Tsakopoulos and several partners.
A long line of supporters spoke in favor of the university. Supporters pointed out that school, which would have approximately 6,000 students, could represent a potential economic impact of more than $105 million a year. A proposal for a university passed by 61 percent in an advisory ballot measure in 2005.
Speakers from the Sierra Club represented the opposition, which argues that the proposal represents leapfrog development and would spur urbanization of other nearby agricultural parcels.
The 1,157 acres are south of Pleasant Grove Creek and north of Base Line Road. About 600 acres would become the university campus. The rest would be sold by the university and developed as 3,232 residences, 1,155 university dwellings, 22 acres of commercial space and 220 acres of park, open space and public land.
Call The Bee's Bob Walter, (916) 478-2860.
