A Dunedin City Council hearings committee has granted the church consent to develop the new facility, capable of handling more than 1000 parishioners at a time, at 326 Factory Rd.
But, after objections from some neighbours, including AgResearch, the committee's decision also came with a list of 19 conditions, including a no-complaints covenant.
That meant the church and its members would be unable to complain about noise, odour or other effects coming from existing neighbours in the rural zone, the decision said.
They would also be prevented from making submissions in opposition to any plan change or resource consent application in the area.
The restrictions were suggested by the church, but also came after environmental planner Graeme Mathieson, appearing for AgResearch, told last month's consent hearing the church's arrival could be followed by complaints aimed at Invermay.
That could result in a potentially costly and time-consuming opposed resource consent hearing, which could also be used by ‘‘anti-research'' individuals or lobby groups ‘‘as a platform to oppose research-related activities'', he said.
‘‘This would add significant costs and delays to any such project, and provide an uncertain outcome for AgResearch,'' he said.
AgResearch's submission was among 11 received - seven opposed, three in support and one neutral - on the church's proposal.
But the committee, comprising Cr Kate Wilson, as chairwoman, Crs David Benson-Pope and Lee Vandervis, and Mosgiel Taieri Community Board chairman Bill Feather, decided the development could proceed with conditions to manage its impact.
That also included a requirement to implement a congregation travel plan, also suggested by the church, to manage the flow of traffic to and from the facility.
A travel plan had already been used to minimise disruption for neighbours living beside the church's existing facility at Glenelg St, which it had outgrown, in response to earlier complaints about traffic and noise.
The committee, in its decision, said a ‘‘high level of compliance'' with the travel plan for the new facility was possible, and would be ‘‘integral'' to managing traffic effects associated with the development.
The large car-parking area and traffic associated with the church would still have an impact, but only at certain times, and the committee was satisfied stormwater and wastewater could be managed on site.
The church was expected to host smaller gatherings of between 50 and 160 parishioners each day, and larger regional gatherings, of up to 700 Brethren, every third Sunday.
The church also sought permission to host up to 1495 parishioners twice a year, to cater for international gatherings and other exceptional events, although they were expected to occur less frequently.
The consent conditions, released by the committee, included set limits for each type of gathering, with an upper limit of 1300 parishioners for ‘‘capacity events'' held up to two times each year.
However, the church would be permitted to exceed each limit by up to 15% if necessary, allowing up to 1495 parishioners for the largest events.
