The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) is currently in the process of developing a new Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) https://lrdp.ucsc.edu/2040/about.html to identify land uses and physical development on campus over the next 20 years. UCSC plans to grow from the current limit of 19,500 students to 28,000 students by 2040.

Before the LDRP can be implemented, UCSC must prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that addresses potentially significant adverse environmental impacts of this projected growth so that mitigation measures or alternatives will be considered. UCSC has issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) https://ppc.ucsc.edu/planning/images/ucsc-lrdp-nop#lrdp-nop of an EIR and scheduled two Scoping Sessions to present project information and accept public comments on the LDRP.

In light of recent public health concerns around COVID-19, these Scoping Sessions will be held only via live video format rather than in-person events. The scoping sessions will be at the same time and date as originally planned: Thursday, March 12, from noon to 2:00 p.m. and that same evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Please go to the following link to participate in each session: https://video.ibm.com/channel/WfRRwzKR4We.

During each session, UCSC will provide a brief presentation and will read the public comments they have received to date via the live video feed. The presentation will be posted online at lrdp.ucsc.edu before the event; the link to the live video feed will also be included online. If you would like your comments to be read during the Scoping Session live feed, please send them to eircomment [at] ucsc.edu from now until the end of each Scoping Session. Please indicate which session, “Campus Session” or “Community Session” for which you would like your comments to be read aloud and provide your full name for the transcript. All comments received will be included in the record. Depending on the volume of comments received, and as is typical with all public hearings, each person’s comment will be limited to three minutes to make sure all comments are heard.

Also, UCSC will accept comments on the NOP through Wednesday, April 8, at 5:00 p.m. Written comments on the LRDP may be sent to: Erika Carpenter, Senior Environmental Planner, Physical Planning, Development and Operations, UCSC, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or email: eircomment [at] ucsc.edu. The League of Women Voters encourages community members to participate in an online Scoping Session and share their comments and concerns regarding the potential impacts of the proposed LRDP.

Here are links to information about the UCSC LRDP:

• UCSC LRDP slide presentation (38 slides): https://lrdp.ucsc.edu/2040/files/2019-12-slides.pdf
• UCSC LRDP EIR NOP Fact Sheet