St. Joseph’s College on Whites Bridge Road is attempting to expand the size of its campus, but is having trouble getting past the town’s zoning board.

With neighbors concerned that the expansion would bring more noise, light and traffic, the private, Catholic liberal arts college was unable to get a majority vote during last Monday’s zoning board meeting, when zoners split, 2-2, on the proposal. A majority vote was needed to move the proposed expansion to the planning board, according to Phil Yauch, executive vice president of the college.

The zoning board has five seats, one of which was vacant during the meeting.

“We hope to work with the town to have a fifth person and a re-vote,” Yauch said Monday.

The fifth seat on the zoning board was filled Tuesday.

Yauch said a written plan from the college’s administration detailed a desire for expansion by the end of this decade.

“We’re trying to expand to get more laboratory space,” said Yauch. He said the science equipment and buildings are becoming outdated and cramped. The college also wants to build more dormitories

Yauch said St. Joseph’s College has a ratio of 15 students for every faculty member.

“In one of the larger universities you can see a couple hundred students in one classroom,” he said. Yauch said the low ratio adds to the value of education.

“Most people like the college the size that it is,” he said.

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