Representatives for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Jonstown and residents of College Heights neighborhood debated over whether a Catholic student worship and activity center belongs on a Park Avenue lot yesterday at a State College zoning hearing board meeting. About 30 people attended the hearing.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Jonstown submitted plans to the borough in September for a two-story facility in the 100 block of East Park Avenue. Diocese officials have said the center would serve Catholic Penn State students, house three clergymen and blend in with the adjacent neighborhood.

However, Carolyn Kunz, College Heights Association (CHA) president, said the 21,000-square-foot facility has the potential to detract from the character of the College Heights neighborhood.

Association members are also concerned about increased traffic and the demolition of three historic buildings, she said.

"They never can come back," Kunz said. "And that will change the character of the neighborhood."

Zoning officials approved the center's plans in October, but CHA appealed the decision in November, requiring the zoning board to re-hear testimony.

Fred Fernsler, architect for the diocese, said housing clergy in worship centers is a common practice.

"It's a zoning issue, not the diocese," he said. "We're running inside the law."

In response to residents' concerns about the facility serving as more of a gathering place than a worship center,

Diocese Finance Director Larry Sutton said the problem lies in the name.

"It's a Catholic center, not a student center," he said.

Shawn Sullivan, attorney for the Diocese, agreed that every aspect of the building would allow students to practice their faith.

"The building as a whole will be used as a place of public worship," he said. "All the social aspects are part of the way Catholics teach their religion, and therefore, are part of their worship."

But, David Engle, attorney for the CHA, argued that the proposed facility would serve as more than a worship center and therefore does not belong in the neighborhood.

"You can't just lump everything into the primary use and call it a church, because there are accessory uses," he said.

With almost 50 religious organizations at Penn State, space and time at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center is limited, Father Matthew Laffey, Penn State Catholic Community director, said.

"We find it a bit stifling for us," he said. "It leaves us lacking in some areas."

For example, the spiritual center does not offer space set aside for the sacrament of reconciliation. The new center would include two reconciliation rooms, Laffey said.

Several board and audience members raised concerns about the number of students who could potentially use the building.

Peggy Hartman, who, for 18 years, lived across from the Benedictine house, which housed clergy, said residents should expect about 20 students to use the building regularly.

"You can't expect kids, after they've been together, to quietly leave," she said. "Noise-wise, it could be devastating [for the neighborhood]."

Laffey said that although about 8,700 Penn State students identify themselves as Catholic, less than 50 are expected to attend daily mass in the center's 70-seat chapel.

Weekend worship will remain at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center because between 1,200 and 1,800 attend mass on those days, he said.

The center would also serve as a meeting place for the various Catholic student groups, Laffey said.

The board will meet to discuss the issue and vote Jan. 24.

--Collegian staff writers Becky Short and Ray Breyer contributed to this story.