MIDDLETOWN — The debate continues regarding a parcel of land county officials identified as key to the development of Guenoc Valley College on donated property off of Butts Canyon Road.
The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to pursue a solution to the misunderstanding regarding land donated — or not donated — to be developed as a private four-year liberal arts college.
Supervisors Rob Brown and Ed Robey volunteered as members of a committee that will meet with Langtry Farms, the current owners of a 185-acre parcel under scrutiny. County Council Anita Grant and Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Cox are also on the committee.
The parcel was originally thought to be included in a 1,000-acre land donation by Orville Magoon in 1999 to the Lake County Business Outreach and Response Team (BORT) for development as a college site.
The approximately 1,000 acres the county is holding for Guenoc College until it can develop on the land averages a 30 to 35 percent cross slope, a grade Community Development Director Rick Coel called “rugged terrain.” The 185-acre parcel is the flattest portion of the area, making it the easiest on which to build.
The question the committee will ask, said Robey, is whether or not that parcel was meant to be included in the donation, and whether or not it can still be donated.
A recent letter from Vice President Sandy Tucker of Langtry Farms explained that it would be difficult to donate the land in question because the property “is currently encumbered by financing and multiple ownership entities.”
Guenoc Valley College President Fran Peretti, Ph.D. advocated for sending documentation to Langtry Farms concerning Magoon”s original intention for the property.
Included in the documentation Peretti provided was a letter dated Nov. 12, 2006 from Eaton Magoon, Jr., acknowledging that the Board of Directors of the Malulani Group Limited (fka Magoon Brothers, Ltd.) and Malulani Investments, Limited (fka Magoon Estate, Ltd.) did OK the additional land donation.
“It was my impression and understanding that the transfer of this additional land for the college had been accomplished after I retired as President and CEO,” said Magoon, Jr.”s letter, referring to the parcel described by land surveyor Kenneth Farr in 1999.
Peretti said that she had “consulted with several attorneys, including a civil litigator” regarding the owner”s obligation to donate the additional property.
She later clarified that her intention had been to ask for advice after Supervisor Brown had told her the county could persuade Langtry Farms to give up the property.
“Consequently, I knew I needed to talk to someone else about whether it is possible to get land exchanged when it is encumbered,” said Peretti.
Tucker said Tuesday that the parcel was never included in the original donation, but “was an additional request after the fact.” Langtry Farms President Dick Frye could not be contacted for comment.
Brown clarified late Tuesday that one of his purposes on the committee will be looking at the project”s viability. “If a project could be built on passion alone, it would”ve been done years ago because of (Peretti),” he said.
Peretti said she has secured about half of the estimated $200 million needed to build the college, with another possible donor lined up. The land issue, she said, may be a wrench in the works.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
