University of California-Merced

of Merced revised its General Plan, formally designating a Specific Urban Development Plan (SUDP) area and outlining a series of long term public planning goals intended to shape development over the coming decades. Among the priorities set forth in this plan were commitments to protecting farmland, conserving natural wetland and other environmental resources, promoting sustainable growth, and ensuring that the UC Merced campus would be constructed in a timely and environmentally conscious manner. In April 1997, the City of Merced expanded its sphere of influence to incorporate the SUDP area and agreed to collaborate closely with Merced County to facilitate the project's advancement.
In February 1998, a formal partnership was established between the University of California, Merced County, the City of Merced, the Virginia Smith Trust, and the Merced Irrigation District. This collaborative team initiated the Concept Planning Phase for the envisioned University Community. As part of this initiative, Merced County …