CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- Church leaders hope to avoid being classified a megachurch when they present their case before the town council on whether the town should annex 53 acres of church-owned property and extend city services to it.

The Denver Post reported the 550-family Church of the Rock was turned down last year. Neighbors in The Meadows subdivision complained about the size of the expansion. Since then, the church has dropped plans for a school and assisted living center on the site.

"People who oppose the expansion say they don't have anything against the church and call it a community asset," said J.D. Holt, administrative pastor for the church. "But they object to the location. And they still call it a ‘megachurch' -- which is hardly the case."

The newspaper reported Holt's definition of a megachurch is one with more than 5,000 seats.

"Since we plan to start with 775 seats in the first phase of the sanctuary and later go to a maximum 1,200 in phase two, we're not even close to that," he said.

The site is bounded on three sides by the subdivision. In June, the council approved first reading of a plan calling for a single building of 75,000 square feet but said the church must meet conditions addressing concerns about traffic, parking and lighting.

Holt told the newspaper he is confident the revised plan, estimated between $5 million to $7 million, meets the conditions.