First Baptist in Geneva looks to expand

First Baptist Church of Geneva is dusting off 11-year-old plans to expand its West Campus at 3435 Keslinger Road.

The congregation plans to add 23,000 square feet that will house offices, a nursery, multipurpose rooms and a lobby.

The Geneva City Council, meeting as a committee of the whole this week, recommended approval of the plan. The official vote is scheduled for Monday.

Technically, aldermen will vote on whether to re-approve Phase 2 of a planned unit development that expired in 2011, and the addition of a third phase to the PUD.

"This could be fairly described as resetting the clock, and a scaled-down version," Alderman Mike Bruno said.

The original two-phase PUD was approved in 2003. West Campus opened in 2004.

The congregation has dropped plans to build a 2,000-seat sanctuary and will continue to worship in a 900-seat gymnasium, according to its application.

The proposed third phase would include building a 300-seat chapel, classrooms, and 160 parking spaces.

The congregation also plans to remodel its East Campus at 2300 South St. It anticipates spending about $9 million on all the projects, according to materials on its website.