PARMA , Ohio—The city council made an about face on six zoning waivers it granted in October, leaving leaders of an orthodox church scratching their heads over the future of a planned $5 million social center.

"At this point, we're in an absolute state of shock," said Michael Zuber, vice president of the Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral board of trustees. "We're puzzled as to where this leaves us."

Bowing to public pressure, the council rescinded the waivers Nov. 10, according to The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.

Ward Councilman Roy Jech said he changed his mind about the plan when he learned the center would be larger than the original facility. Neighbors, too, were concerned about the size.

"We're just asking them to downsize it," said Bill Fischer.

Another nearby resident, Mary Smigelski, told the newspaper the current plan called for a parking lot as close as 30 feet to adjacent homes.

"We are definitely concerned about our property values … and our quality of life," she said.

But downsizing, Zuber said, would limit use of the building.

"We'd be left with a box where all people could do is sit and eat," he said.

According to the newspaper, the waivers would have allowed smaller landscape buffers around the church and parking areas. Parking would have been allowed in the front of the building and the lot would have 100 fewer spaces than normally required for a building its size, sparking fears among neighbors that more on-street parking would result.

The building setback would have been 24 feet, less than half that required by zoning code.