Hillsdale College owns southwest Placer County land for university and community uses

HC Real Estate, an entity controlled by Hillsdale College, obtained land meant for a university campus site and a community site in southwest Placer County last Nov. 29. Hillsdale College is a private conservative liberal arts college with about 1,500 students in Hillsdale, Michigan. The land was transferred to HC Real Estate from the two limited liability companies (LLCs) that owned it, Placer University Project, LLC and Placer University Community Property, LLC, according to Placer County officials. There are no restrictions on the entities that the LLCs can transfer the property and the development agreement to, according to the county, although the entity must follow the development agreement. The two properties are located in the unincorporated portion of southwest Placer County, south of Pleasant Grove Creek between Brewer Road and the western boundary of Roseville. The land HC Real Estate owns includes a 600-acre university campus site called the University Parcel and an adjoining 558-acre community site with residential, commercial and office uses called the Community Parcel. These properties are included in the Regional University Specific Plan (RUSP), which Placer County approved on Dec. 9, 2008. The University Parcel includes a core campus, faculty housing, student housing and administrative facilities. The campus was expected to accommodate about 6,000 students as well as 800 professors and staff, according to Placer County officials. The University Parcel owners are restricted to using the property for an institution of higher education for a period of 50 years in accordance with the Regional University Specific Plan. The development agreement and the Regional University Specific Plan also establish the standard that the institution provides higher education that awards bachelor's and other degrees and certificates. HC Real Estate has not yet submitted an active application for development on the university property, according to Placer County officials. As part of the Regional University Specific Plan, development on the university property is subject to a two-tiered review and approval process that includes a Campus Master Plan, which must describe in detail the proposed uses within the campus. The plan should also lay out any development phasing such as construction of buildings, passive and active recreation amenities, backbone infrastructure and landscaping. The Campus Master Plan must be prepared and approved by the Placer County Board of Supervisors before issuing the first building permit in the university property. This action would be identified on the board of supervisors' meeting agenda beforehand and the public has the opportunity to comment before a decision is made.