Planning Commission Approves Fuller Seminary Plan to Shrink Campus

Fuller Theological Seminary, a Pasadena institution for nearly eight decades, presented plans to dramatically downsize its campus footprint at Wednesday night’s Planning Commission meeting. The proposal aims to adapt the seminary’s physical presence to match declining on-campus enrollment and a shift toward online education.

The proposal allowed for shedding nearly half of its 29 properties in Pasadena.

“Fuller is not leaving Pasadena and Fuller is not dissolving the campus here,” said Stephanie DeWolfe, a consultant to Fuller Seminary.

“This is a response to a changing landscape in higher education,” DeWolfe explained. “Graduate students are much less likely to want to relocate, to want to move to Pasadena for two years and then have to move back and reestablish all of those networks.”

“There will always be a contingent of on-campus students and the vision for the Fuller campus in the future is one that embraces both on-campus and virtual learning in a vibrant yet condensed campus footprint.”

Established in 1947, Fuller has grown to become the largest multidenominational seminary in the world, with campuses in Pasadena, Phoenix, and Houston. The institution currently serves over 2,800 students worldwide across 16 degree programs.

The seminary’s proposed Master Plan amendment would reduce the maximum on-campus student population from 2,000 to 500.

It designates 15 “core” properties to be retained for school-related facilities and 14 “non-core” properties that would continue to be subject to the Master Plan until they are no longer needed for Fuller campus purposes and are sold or leased to non-Fuller entities.

Key elements of the Plan include:

• Maintaining the historic buildings along Oakland Avenue and affordable housing for students, staff and faculty
• Preserving Chang Commons as the center of campus housing
• Keeping the prayer garden, chapel, psychology programs, counseling clinic, and library
• Canceling a 2006 development agreement
• Subdividing a parcel at 261 N. Madison Ave.
• Changing zoning designations for one newly created lot
• Extending the master plan timeline to 2046

Fuller President David Emmanuel Goatley emphasized the Seminary’s ongoing commitment to the city, noting its 77-year presence in Pasadena and contributions through community leaders, pastors, therapists and psychologists. He also said that Fuller has held more than a dozen community meetings regarding the plan.

The proposal includes preserving the Ford Place Historic District, which contains several properties within the Master Plan boundaries.

Fuller intends to continue providing affordable mental health services through its Fuller Psychological and Family Services clinic, which offers nearly 15,000 sessions annually in multiple languages, as shown by the documents.

During public comment, concerns were raised about noticing requirements for affected tenant households and qualified entities, as well as potential impacts on housing affordability and tenant protections.

Commissioners raised questions about parking, housing protections, and notification requirements.

In the end, the Commission unanimously approved Fuller’s request for changes, with one minor addition. Given the shortage of residential and commercial parking in the area, Fuller was given authority in the future to share any excess parking with neighboring uses.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation will go to the City Council for final approval.