Neighbor complaints about singing and music classes held at the West Tisbury branch of the Fellowship of Christians and Universities and Schools (FOCUS) could lead to a formal review by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission of whether the youth ministry violated its conditions of approval from 13 years ago.

A national, nondenominational Christian fellowship based in Charlottesville, Va., FOCUS has an association with the Vineyard dating back to 1970 when its founding director Rev. Peter C. Moore, an Episcopal priest, worked for the Chilmark Community Center and hosted student gatherings at a rented house in Aquinnah.

In 2002 the main administrative offices were relocated from West Tisbury to Virginia.

The West Tisbury branch of the fellowship received permission from the MVC in 1995 to build a new study center at its property on Lambert’s Cove Road overlooking Seth’s Pond. Approved as a development of regional impact (DRI), the plan called for expanding an existing study center and building a new chapel, bunk house, dining hall, pavilion and foot bridges.

Neighbors in recent years have raised concerns that the study center has evolved into a music center and studio, and some have complained about noise.

West Tisbury resident Nicholas Puner sent a letter to the commission on Dec. 7 complaining about amplified music coming from the campus. Mr. Puner said it was his understanding the fellowship has operated a music school at the location since 2000.

“I have spoken with FOCUS several times about the noise intrusion, and have received apologies and promises to monitor it. What is clear to me, however, is that FOCUS, as ever, needs to be transparent about the way it uses its property — much more intensively than those around it — in what is principally a residential district,” he wrote.

Mr. Puner brought his complaints to town building inspector Ernest P. Mendenhall, who discussed them with selectman Richard Knabel.

In November Mr. Mendenhall wrote a letter to the commission stating that “persistent complaints from neighbors, personal observation and the urging of one of the West Tisbury selectmen” led him to formally request the commission to review the current use of the youth ministry and determine if it exceeds the previous conditions of approval.

FOCUS quickly and aggressively disputed the letter. On Jan. 8 attorney Robert M. McCarron sent a letter to DRI coordinator Paul Foley announcing that members of the fellowship would not attend staff meetings or participate in public hearings to discuss the use of its property.

“FOCUS has made no applications nor requested any municipal permission that could trigger review by the MVC,” Mr. McCarron wrote in part.

Mr. McCarron suggested the referral stems from complaints lodged primarily by one unnamed neighbor about music classes at the FOCUS property. “Music classes, like art classes for example, are consistent with FOCUS’s educational mission and are simply a program/curriculum choice by FOCUS, requiring no further permit or authorization from any municipal board, agency or official,” Mr. McCarron wrote.

In a Jan. 6 letter to Mr. Mendenhall, Mr. McCarron demanded the building inspector withdraw his request to the commission.

Mr. Foley said the commission was prepared to hold a modification review hearing for FOCUS after receiving Mr. Mendenhall’s letter in November. But after Mr. McCarron’s letter, the commission’s legal counsel was consulted to review the matter, he said.

At a recent selectmen’s meeting, Mr. Mendenhall stood behind his referral.

“This is a matter for the commission; let them decide,” he said.