Land at the end of Patricia Lane in Sutter Creek has been mentioned as the possible site of a community college campus.

Photo by: Raheem Hosseini

Sutter Creek's recent general plan update included an item that, for some, could mean the difference between remaining in Amador County or moving away.

During last week's city council discussion of a village concept for future housing and development in Sutter Creek, a brief reference was made to "providing a transfer zone to secure a college site." City Manager Rob Duke explained that the area located west of the Highway 49 bypass, known as Allen Ranch, could be considered a potential site for a community college project within the next 20 years.

"At this point, the general plan is the vehicle for the approval," Duke said. "This struck us as being a future plan until the land is secured as the college site."

Duke said that the city and the Allen family had put aside the need for an intersection at the proposed area. The Amador County Transportation Commission has said the intersection would be done eventually and that a college site would have the political clout to get the project started. Without the intersection, the plan wouldn't work.

"This is a significant draw on our resources and, from an economic standpoint, it's better for all of us," Duke said.

Several entities, both public and private, have offered land for some type of college development, according to Ron Mittelbrunn, president of the Amador Community College Foundation. But no one had yet made a genuine offer, Mittelbrunn added, and he was unaware of any property the city of Sutter Creek had set aside for a college.

Right now, the foundation is focusing on smaller goals.

"ACCF strongly feels our current challenge is to fill the college classes being offered through Cosumnes River College," Mittelbrunn said. "The 'brain drain' experienced by our county continues as graduating seniors seek higher education opportunities elsewhere."

In lieu of its own college campus, the foundation has been lobbying to increase the local presence of a neighboring community college. The Los Rios Community College District has been offering four late afternoon and evening classes per semester in borrowed classrooms adjacent to Independence High Continuation School in Martell.

Amador County is one of three California counties not currently aligned with a community college district. To join a district like the Los Rios system, which is the fifth largest in the country, voters would need to approve a ballot measure and possibly additional taxes.

News of a possible community college in Sutter Creek was also addressed by the foundation's Renee Chapman. While she had heard the rumors, she hadn't heard about the possible location on land abutting Patricia Lane or which city was wiling to take on the project.

"I believe there is a rancher that has said he might be willing to sell some of his land at a bargain price for a community college, but the exact location isn't known to the foundation at this time," she said.

Duke said the city was by no means attempting to monopolize a community college project. If another city is able to secure the land to go with it, the mission, he said, is to bring a college here so youths don't have to move away for education or jobs.

"The general plan at this point hasn't been given a stamp of approval from the planning commission or the city council," he said. "Once that is done, it will be turned over to a consultant for a draft document before we can implement it. Right now it's a pie in the sky."