Planning can go forward for an expanded interfaith worship campus on the west side of Columbus after the Columbus City Council gave its approval to a rezoning of the property off of Goeller Boulevard.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus and the Hindu Society asked the council to consider rezoning their properties from agricultural use to public facilities. The goal is to build more facilities for small faith communities such as the local Jewish population.

Neighbors said they were opposed because of concerns over drainage, the commercial septic system, vandalism, noise and the traffic from large number of people worshipping at several churches and temples planned for the property.

Neighbor Lawrence Myers said that he was concerned about the effect on the values of neighboring properties if the campus fills the entire lot with buildings.

“How many would want to buy property right up next to a big community space,” Myers said.

Allan Gilford, representing the faith groups, said that the rezoning approval would give them the go-ahead to at least try to engineer solutions to those problems.

Whatever plans they develop at the property would have to come back before city and county planners for review, said Jeff Bergman, head of the city/county planning department.

Although the properties are outside of the Columbus city limits, they are within the city’s two-mile zoning jurisdiction.

Council members Frank Jerome and Lori Booher voted against the proposal.