HANOVER — Plans to build a 21,250-square-foot church on Greensboro Road cleared an important regulatory hurdle last week when the Hanover Zoning Board granted a special exception for the project.

The board voted unanimously to approve Christ Redeemer Church’s proposal to build on two lots in the residential neighborhood, reversing a December decision that initially blocked the project.

That earlier decision stated the church would have “an adverse impact on the character” of the neighborhood off Route 120 south of downtown Hanover.

Several neighbors also opposed the project for the same reason, and told officials the new building would increase noise, traffic and light pollution to about 20 surrounding homes.

But the church, which currently holds services at Hanover High School, appealed early this year, saying the board was wrong to deny it permission to build the $5 million facility.

In a letter to the town, the church’s attorneys argued that Hanover’s zoning ordinance discriminates against religious institutions because it requires churches to obtain a special exception in areas of town where other buildings could serve large numbers of people without obtaining the approval.

While the board reversed course, it set several conditions aimed at curtailing noise and traffic on Greensboro Road.

It limited occupancy in the building to 300 people, down from the roughly 400 the church hoped to accommodate, and limited parking to 113 vehicles.

The decision also set operating hours of 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends. The church will be allowed to remain open until midnight on both Christmas and Christmas Eve, as well.

Neighbor Jeff Acker on Wednesday called the conditions “toothless” and said they wouldn’t mitigate damage to the neighborhood.

“In their deliberations, and in both decisions, it is clear that a majority of the ZBA members believe the church will have a negative impact on the character of the area,” he wrote in an email. “Unfortunately, they were bullied and intimidated by the threat of a lawsuit into allowing the church to go forward anyway.”

Barring any further appeals, the project will next go before Hanover’s Planning Board for a site plan review, according to Robert Houseman. Hanover’s director of planning, zoning and codes.