SCCCD moves forward with plans for new Oakhurst campus

At that same meeting in early March, the SCCCD Board approved the $1,822,500 purchase of 30 acres on the west side of Westlake Drive, north of Highway 49 in Oakhurst to be the new site of Oakhurst Community College Center.

In 2017, the District, Reedley College and Oakhurst Community College Center began a staff, faculty and community outreach effort to communicate the opportunities of a new campus through Measure C funds. The outreach efforts provided input into campus, community, and site needs, while releasing a Request for Proposals for land within the Oakhurst community.

As a result of those outreach efforts, several properties were submitted to the District for consideration. Through a site selection process workgroup, which included an environmental land consultant, bond consultant and district and campus staff, four properties were identified as the top preferred viable options. Upon further investigation and community outreach, the Oakhurst Westlake property was recommended to the Board as the District’s top choice requesting negotiation parameters at the January 2018 Board meeting.

The property, which overlooks a small pond east of Westlake Drive, includes two main adjoining parcels equaling 30.20 net acres plus a small “outlet” property donated by the seller for use by SCCCD to place campus signage.

A native of Woodlake, Daniel Leon is a recent graduate of Fresno State with a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. Daniel served as Sports Editor at The Collegian, Fresno State’s student-run newspaper, prior to joining the Roundup. Got a story idea? Email him at editor@clovisroundup.com