BUTLER TWP — The land development plan for a church’s expansion project was tabled Tuesday by the township planning commission over concerns about stormwater runoff.

The expansion of the Bright Hope Community Church at 4101 Highland Ave. wasn’t at issue, but the effects on Meridian Road of a much larger parking lot at the roughly one-acre site were.

Members of the planning commission and township engineer Daniel Deseroth said they were worried about stormwater flow from the site adding to an already-tenuous situation along Meridan Road, which they said is notorious for flooding during heavy rain.

The church’s property is near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Meridian Road, where the flooding generally occurs, township officials said. They asked the church’s design team to re-evaluate a stormwater management system that would be installed beneath a proposed expanded parking lot to see if there were better ways to limit water running off the site.

The church’s proposed expansion would add 1,258 square feet to the building’s east side, and pave most of its one-acre parcel to create a 32-space parking lot.

Pastor Paul Hoover said the expansion comes as part of Bright Hope’s long term “vision plan.” Currently the church’s sanctuary seats 160 people, Hoover said. The expansion would increase that to about 275 seats and also add a multipurpose room that Hoover hopes would allow the church to host community events and events such as blood drives.

“We’re trying to be a pro-active group and have a positive effect on our community,” Hoover said.

Jessie Hines, the township’s zoning officer, said state law requires the commission to rule on the plan within 90 days or it is considered approved. Hines said there was still more than 60 days left for the commission to rule on the plan.