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Site approval had been delayed by legal matters and the need for an exemption from the Highlands Act, a state law restricting development in the region. Christ Church has already established its administrative headquarters at the site while retaining its 800-seat sanctuary in Montclair. The eventual build-out will incorporate portions of the existing Agilent office complex at 140 Green Pond Rd., with new construction.

Groundbreaking for the permanent facility is expected to happen by the end of the year, according to Rev. David Ireland, who heads the institution. The approved site plan calls for a 265,000-sf complex, scaled back from an original proposal of 400,000 sf. It would include a 2,500-seat sanctuary, an elementary school for 300 students, 22,000 sf of administrative offices and a 12,000-sf gym and fitness center. Outdoor recreational facilities would include baseball fields, basketball courts and tennis courts. The site would also have parking for 1,000 vehicles.