Central Oregon Community College has restructured an agreement to help the school receive more donated land in Madras despite failing to live up to an original deal set by the college’s benefactor.

COCC originally entered into an agreement with the Madras-based Bean Foundation in 2001, receiving 15 acres to build on with the possibility of eventually receiving around 50 total acres in two additional phases. The college was first required to construct at least 8,500 square feet within five years of officially being deeded the first 15 acres in 2003, an obligation it didn’t quite meet, as COCC didn’t open its 10,000-square-foot campus until 2011. As a result, the college was not eligible to receive the second 15-acre and third 19-acre plots while the foundation had the right to revoke the original deed, an option it did not exercise.

“Part of it was there was a pretty aggressive timeline, and the economy also shifted around during that time,” said Matt McCoy, the college’s vice president for administration.

“The funds simply weren’t available, and also, the demand wasn’t quite there,” McCoy said. “We wanted to be good faith partners and expand when the demand was right, but the population of students didn’t increase as quickly as we had thought.”

Before this month’s college board meeting in Madras, the foundation, which was founded by L.A. Bean to increase opportunities for the city’s community, approached COCC to restructure the deal. Bean Foundation President George Neilson said, “Any time you’re trying to predict how long a project like this will take, let’s be straightforward, you’re just guessing.”

“We have had this agreement in place so that we can develop access to higher education in the community,” Neilson said. “We were bumping up against the deadlines and felt it was in the interest of the community and our foundation that the opportunity for the development of COCC here in Madras continue.”

Under the new terms, agreed upon earlier this month, the foundation will give the college the second piece of land, requiring COCC to have 17,000 total square feet by 2021, while also allowing the college to count some existing non-classroom space toward the target. For the third parcel, which the college and foundation agreed will now be a few acres smaller to allow for an extension of City View Street, the college will have to construct a total of 25,500 square feet by 2026.

McCoy noted the long-term goal is to offer a “comprehensive” campus to Madras students, hosting a range of courses but also spaces for student services, such as counseling offices.

“The Bean Foundation has always been a great partner,” McCoy said. “We’re happy to have this modified agreement, as our ultimate goal is to expand services to the northern portion of our district, offering more to Madras, Warm Springs and parts of Wasco County.”

— Reporter: 541-633-2160, tleeds@bendbulletin.com