NORMAL - The chaplain of a Catholic student center said he hopes the site's $3 million expansion can move forward within six months - even after miscommunication about how the project fit into Main Street Corridor guidelines delayed construction.

"We'll have to meet what the town of Normal has asked," said the Rev. Antonio Dittmer of the St. Robert Bellarmine Newman Center, 501 S. Main St.

It is too early to say exactly what changes might result from the town's requested adjustments, he said.

"At this point, we have to gather more data," he said.

The Normal City Council on Monday approved a request by developer River City Design Group to build the new 400-seat chapel 15 feet from Main Street. That is more than the 7-foot maximum setback the Twin Cities want for redevelopment along U.S. Business 51.

However, the council denied the project leeway in the corridor's still-pending requirement for emphasizing environmental sustainability in the design.

"The new design standards (for the corridor) are in the pipeline, and we want to make sure all the Main Street projects are following them," said Mark Peterson, Normal city manager.

In particular, Normal wants corridor projects to meet minimum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.

"In their minds, they were too far along in the plans, and weren't aware of the LEED requirements. From what they've told us it is certainly more complicated though not impossible to adjust the plan," said Peterson.

"There are no hard feelings here. There's no bitterness, here," the chaplain said. "We all just want to work with the town," to keep the project moving.

However, Dittmer did say students and others have called him to express disappointment in the setback. The center is near Illinois State University but serves students at the four Twin City campuses.

"There was a sort of collective gasp," he said. "They really were looking forward to this long-talked-about chapel finally getting under way."

In April, Bishop Daniel Jenky, leader of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, attended a ceremonial groundbreaking. And plans already were in place to celebrate Mass at alternative spots across campus this fall during construction.

"We were hoping to have a bulldozer out front by fall. I just hope we can keep the anticipation going," said Dittmer.

Some of the confusion came from the release of interim Main Street Corridor guidelines after the Diocese already had begun its design phase for the center's renovation, said Peterson.

Dittmer directed specific questions about the project to the Diocese, but Diocese Chancellor Patricia Gibson was unavailable Wednesday for comment.

The chapel will front the existing circa-1967, aluminum-sided structure. The plan expands recreation, library, classroom and office spaces.