Lebanon
“It’s been a very positive experience for us thus far,” said Susan Henderson, the college’s interim vice president of academic affairs. “We’ve had nothing but positive comments.”
The community college saw 83 students enroll for its first term downtown, she said, about 60 percent more than initially projected.
River Valley continues to hire, with six full-time positions budgeted in Lebanon. There also are plans to create 20 jobs through a partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center over the next year.
Under the terms of a grant, the college has to create 25 jobs with partners by June 2017.
The Claremont-based community college purchased its Hanover Street campus in August, using a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program. The 19,000-square-foot building was occupied by Lebanon College until low enrollment and financial difficulties lead to its abrupt closing in August 2014.
The city of Lebanon was awarded a $500,000 block grant to support renovations a month after the purchase, and classes began early this year with a “soft opening” and 12 course offerings.
Between October 2015 and March 2015, the grant money was used to purchase a new furnace, increase the number of bathrooms, remove asbestos tiles and perform fire alarm and lighting upgrades, Henderson said. A second phase of renovations is set to begin next month, she said, and will include the creation of a massage therapy room to train students in a spa setting.
“I’m delighted that you are here and a presence on the mall,” said Councilor Karen Liot Hill, who asked if the Community College of Vermont’s recent move to extend in-state tuition to border residents in New Hampshire would impact the college’s growth.
River Valley made a similar move about a year ago, Henderson replied, and now offers in-state tuition to some Vermont, Massachusetts and even Maine residents. River Valley also offers credits at lower rates than their Vermont counterparts, she said, so it’s unlikely the two were in competition.
The college is planning an official opening for Aug. 25, Henderson said, and continues to enroll students for upcoming semesters.
In other business, councilors also approved a list of zoning amendments meant to update city parking regulations for mixed-use buildings and new developments.
Under the amendments, parking rules for mixed-use developments will better measure their use and possibly allow developers to reduce the number of spaces. The new regulations also allow for increased parking, with city approval, at other developments, and for beekeeping in residential zones.
“What I’m hearing, I think, is pretty reasonable,” said Bruce Townsend, who has four hives at his Storrs Hill farm.
He told councilors beekeepers are very cautious and aware of the liability to others.
“Anyone who wants to keep bees, especially in a town where you got a permit or not, had better have that in their mind,” he said. “You need to keep (bees) in a way (that’s) not putting people in jeopardy.”
The amendments now will become part of the city’s zoning ordinance. City Zoning Administrator Tim Corwin said the council can expect to review additional proposed amendments in early fall.
Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com.