SCHENECTADY — Enrollment at Schenectady Community College is expected to hit an all-time high this fall.

President Gabriel Basil told the Board of Trustees on Monday that this year’s full-time freshman class will top 700 students for the first time in history. An estimated 2,200 full-time and 2,900 part-time students are expected to attend, based on current enrollment data.

“It’s amazing where we are and the applications are still coming in,” he said. “We’re getting a lot of people who would normally go elsewhere but because of the economic situation, they’re looking to come here.”

Basil said other reasons for the increase are the enhanced positive image of SCCC and community colleges in general.

Officials are continuing efforts to market the college. They created three new television advertisements using footage from the production of a new DVD about the college. Radio ads are also airing on Capital Region stations and print ads are continuing in area newspapers and newsletters. The college also has a billboard facing Interstate 890.

Enrollment in fall 2007 stood at 2,102 full- and 2,822 part-time students.

Basil has stated previously that the new student housing project would expand that enrollment by another 5 percent. The college’s nonprofit foundation plans to build a 105,000-square-foot, 313-room dormitory on Railroad Avenue across from the college.

Columbia Development Companies and BBL Construction Services are handling the project, projected to cost about $20 million.

“They’d like to break ground before the end of the month. If everything falls into place, they can do that,” Basil said.

The Schenectady County Legislature has formed a new economic development entity called 117 Washington Avenue Local Development Corp. to issue tax-exempt bonds to the developers.

The project moved on the fast track after the Schenectady Planning Commission approved the site plan on Aug. 6.

However, disability rights advocate Jason Planck is asking a judge to void that approval on the grounds that the commission violated the open meetings law.

Planck, who has brought other actions against the college and county, filed what is known as an Article 78 notice at the Schenectady County Clerk’s Office on Aug. 8.

Planck said the meeting was advertised in The Daily Gazette on July 25. However, the meeting notice on the City Hall bulletin board was posted Monday before the meeting as early as 10 a.m. That would be less than the 72 hours required by law. He also said that there was no information on the city’s Web page about the special meeting.

He also wrote in his filing that the city does not have any policies and procedures in place to accommodate people with disabilities who wish to attend these meetings.

Planck is seeking a new Planning Commission meeting on this project. A hearing in the case will be held on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Schenectady County Court.

Planck said he is supportive of the college housing project overall, but he insists that the proper procedures must be followed.

“It’s totally wrong the way they did everything,” he said.

Planck also said the site plan does not have an handicapped accessible route from the college on Washington Avenue to the dorm. “The sidewalks are not done; the curb cuts are not done,” he said.

Basil said he could not comment regarding whether there was proper notice since that is a city issue.

“As far as the building is concerned, it will be compliant with respect to disabled students,” he said.

City Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden could not be reached for comment.