WATERVILLE — The Waterville City Council is expected Tuesday to consider the proposal for a zoning change on Pleasant and Middle streets to allow businesswoman Jennifer Bergeron and partners to turn the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church property into an events center for weddings, receptions, craft fairs and other events.

The virtual meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The public may register to view the proceeding via a link on the city’s website .

Bergeron is requesting the property be rezoned from Residential-B and Residential-D to Contract Zoned District Commercial-A. The proposal has sparked backlash from some neighbors in the residential area, who said they worry about loud noise and other disruptions to the neighborhood.

The Planning Board voted 6-0 on June 7 to approve the zoning change with conditions of the contract zone to include that no alcohol be consumed on the property and the events center hours be restricted to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Planning Board may recommend rezoning to the council, which has the authority to make zone changes.

Other conditions the council would consider as part of the contract zone: That the Planning Board review a site plan for the development, in accordance with the city’s site plan review and subdivision ordinance; parking and driveways be set back at least 5 feet from all property lines; landscaped berms be installed along street lines to prevent headlights from shining into houses, and curbing be added along street lines to direct the flow of traffic.

The Planning Board also recommends a condition that within five years, a solid, 6-foot-tall fence or a compact evergreen hedge be planted and maintained to attain a height of no less than 6 feet, and that it be installed along property lines abutting parking lots unless the board approves an alternative landscaping plan that provides adequate screening.

In addition, existing plantings would be retained, where feasible, to provide a visual buffer for abutting properties, and the capacity of the church building would be determined by the number of parking spaces in the lot, with three people allotted per space.

Other conditions include the rectory shall be used only for residential use, and the church office building used only by the events center.

At the June 7 Planning Board meeting, several residents said an events center would create noise because of people leaving late at night, talking, getting into cars, slamming doors and shining headlights into houses.

Others who support the proposal have said they want to see the historic church preserved. They have also said it would be difficult or impossible to use it for anything else, and the building would continue to deteriorate and become a fire hazard.

Board members wanted Bergeron to set a closing time for the center, but she said she could not because she cannot predict when each event would end.

Some board members said they were opposed to a use that would change the residential nature of the neighborhood.

The City Council must take two votes to approve zoning changes and may take only one vote Tuesday.

In other matters Tuesday, the council is expected to consider a final vote to amend the city’s animal control ordinance to increase from three to four the number of dogs allowed for a family within the city, and limiting the number allowed in the Rural Residential Zone to 10.

Councilors are also expected to consider voting to accept a proposed process for reviewing performance of the city manager, approving the purchase of a utility terrain vehicle and rescue boat for the Fire Department and approving a zoning change for part of 101 Webb Road, from Rural Residential to Solar Farm District.

The change is requested by NextGrid as part of a previously approved site plan for a solar farm.

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