A new social hall is part of the expansion plans for Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church on Sangree Road in Ross.

Ross commissioners Monday approved the church's proposals for additions and renovations.

In addition to the social hall, the $1.75 million project includes additional Sunday school rooms and a consolidation of church offices. The original church building and the addition also will be made more accessible to people who have disabilities, according to James F. Johnston, an architect with Paul Slowik & Associates, of McCandless.

The new construction will total about 7,000 square feet.

Commissioners also approved a proposal to expand parking at the church by about 30 spaces to provide room for 131 vehicles.

The township planning commission, which acts as an adviser to the commissioners, had unanimously recommended approval of the project.

The Berkeley Hills buildings serve both the Lutheran congregation and other philanthropic institutions in the northern suburbs, Mr. Johnston said. A Boy Scout troop, Meals-on-Wheels food service for elderly people and Alcoholics Anonymous are among the groups that use the property.

The new social hall will allow the church to expand its fellowship efforts, which include a dinner theater.

The addition will be constructed of red brick similar to that used on the original structure. The gable-end roof also has been designed to match the existing building, Mr. Johnston said.

Berkeley Hills Lutheran hopes to begin construction in May. Bob Klein, chairman of the church's building committee, estimated that the work would take about a year.

The social hall will be the first element to be built. When that is completed, worship services could be relocated there while construction continues on the rest of the project.

The church also is home to a preschool program. Mr. Klein said work in those rooms could be done over the summer vacation.