An Oak Bluffs church will soon learn whether it can build a large expansion, following the close of a public hearing before the Martha’s Vineyard Commission last week.

The Alliance Community Church, formerly known as Nova Vida Church, has tried for a number of years to expand its facility.

In 2008 the church won approval for expansion from the MVC, but five years later, in December 2013, the commission rejected a more extensive expansion due to concerns over the visual impact of the building and its potential effect on the surrounding neighborhood.

At the time some commissioners questioned whether the church needed an expansion as the congregation was smaller than it had once been. The church membership fluctuates between 60 and 80 households, according to commission documents. Meanwhile, the church revised its plans again, hoping to win commission approval. The size of the proposed building was reduced by five per cent to 11,808 gross square feet.

A 3,900-square-foot addition would house a 150-seat sanctuary for worship services. Renovation to the existing building would accommodate additional living space as well as a kitchen and classroom space.

Abutters from the Ryan’s Way neighborhood oppose the expansion, citing concerns about size, scale and noise.

The new plan has the building and parking situated farther away from the neighborhood access road.

Much of the discussion at the final public hearing last Thursday concerned noise. A sound engineer for the church appeared via video conference to explain the sound mitigation aspects of the proposal.

To further mitigate the impact on the neighborhood, the church is looking into a new curb cut on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road which would eliminate vehicular access from Ryan’s Way. The curb cut would need approval from the Oak Bluffs zoning board of appeals.

“I think that we have taken every suggestion that has been made to us quite seriously,” said Rosemarie Haigazian, an attorney who represents the church, at a previous hearing. “Some we have been able to address. We just can’t make all the people happy all of the time.”

In a final statement, contractor John Folino said the existing church is taller and longer than the proposed building. He said the new plan complies with the commission’s Island Plan by providing housing for staff and promoting diversity.

Deliberations and a possible vote are set for Sept. 18.

In other business, the commission is also reviewing a preliminary plan for a subdivision off Barnes Road in Oak Bluffs. The project, proposed by David A. Danielson, involves the subdivision of 32.5 acres of land into 23 lots, with up to 25 housing units.

Review by the MVC of a form B preliminary plan allows the applicant to get feedback on the conceptual plan. The plan must be presented as a form C, or definitive plan, for any final review by the commission.

Testimony from the public has so far centered on wastewater. The development is located in the Lagoon Pond watershed, where nitrogen outputs are limited.

The project is proposed under an Oak Bluffs zoning provision which allows for denser development if certain portions of the property are dedicated to open space, affordable housing and elder housing.

Mr. Danielson has offered to dedicate some lots to elderly housing and said more than 60 per cent of the property will be preserved as open space. He also has offered to carve a trail through the property to Barnes Road.