A plan to expand the First Presbyterian Church downtown is meeting with resistance from neighbors, primarily over parking.

The church is petitioning the city to allow it to use part of its existing parking lot to accommodate a 6,444-square-foot single-story addition that would include a fellowship hall, kitchen and bathrooms.

The Corvallis Planning Commission will consider the plan on Jan. 21.*

Francisco Martin, CEO of Strands Inc., a local technology firm, even threatened to consider moving his company out of its downtown location if the project is approved by the commission.

"The parking around our offices is already critical, especially now that the university is in session," Martin wrote in a letter to the commission. "Passage of the proposed reduction would make a bad situation worse."

First Presbyterian's paved and gravel parking area currently can accommodate up to 44 vehicles. If the project is approved, that number would be reduced to 21. The church is planning to install a covered bicycle shelter for 16 bikes.

According to a traffic study submitted with building documents, the church expansion is not expected to increase the amount of traffic at the church and on-street parking was deemed adequate to handle daily use for events and by office staff.

The study predicted that the church parking lot, once reduced, would only be filled to 25 percent during times other than when services are held.

In November, the city's Historic Resources Commission approved the church's plan under its historic preservation guidelines.

The First Presbyterian Church is designated as a historic resource by the city and is listed in the local register of historic landmarks.

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski@lee.net.

* An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the date of the Planning Commission hearing. The Gazette-Times regrets the error.