The Palomar Community College District has prepared and is recirculating the Palomar College South Education Center Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for public review and comment, beginning Friday, March 25, 2016.  The recirculated DEIR contains new information and analysis regarding traffic, parking and greenhouse gas emissions.

The college distributed the initial DEIR in October 2015; the public comment period ended on December 7, 2015.  During the public comment period the college hosted a Notice of Preparation meeting, a community forum and also visited community groups in the southern portion of the college’s district.

“The recirculated DEIR addresses concerns that were expressed by residents in the community closest to the Rancho Bernardo site, during the initial comment period,” stated Adrian Gonzales, Interim Superintendent/President.  “Palomar College is committed to serving all residents in our district.  We are excited about the opportunity to offer increased educational access to the residents in the southern portion of our district.”

The Palomar College South Education Center is located at 11111 Rancho Bernardo Road, San Diego.  The college is scheduled to begin construction on the facility in the summer of 2016, and plans to offer classes at the site starting in 2018.  The Palomar College South Education Center will serve the southern portion of Palomar Community College District, including the communities of Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Rancho Peñasquitos, Santa Luz, Del Sur, Sabre Springs, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Poway and Ramona.

Palomar College purchased the 27-acre property in June 2010.  The site currently includes an 110,000-square-foot building, as well as a parking structure.  The site was purchased using Proposition (Prop) M general obligation bond funds; Prop M is a $694 million bond, approved by district voters in November 2006.  The South Education Center was identified in the district’s Master Plan 2022.

The DEIR is available for review on the college’s website at: http://www.palomar.edu/propm/environmental-impact-reports/.

Comments on the DEIR may be sent via mail, email or fax and should be addressed to: Dennis Astl, Palomar Community College District, San Marcos Campus, 1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069-1487; Phone: (760) 744-1150 x2772; Fax: (760) 761-3506; Email: dastl@palomar.edu.  The comment period for the DEIR is March 25 – May 9, 2016.

Palomar College, established in 1946, is a public, two-year college in San Marcos. Palomar Community College District covers approximately 2,555-square-miles in North San Diego County.  The College offers more than 250 degree and certificate programs and more than 24,000 students attend classes.   In addition to San Marcos, the college offers classes at the Escondido Education Center, as well as at Camp Pendleton, Fallbrook High School, Pauma, and Mt. Carmel High School. 

# # #

Media Contact:

Laura Gropen, Director, Public Affairs, 760-744-1150 x2152, lgropen@palomar.edu