BANGOR — The Rev. Herman C. “Buddy” Frankland and members of his Messiah Baptist Church face an uphill battle before the Bangor City Council tonight.

They will need six of nine council votes to overturn the planning board’s recommendation to deny rezoning of a 5.5-acre parcel on the Kittredge Road, where the church wants to build a home.

The item will be on the council agenda when it meets at 7:30 tonight at City Hall.

Messiah Baptist Church last year failed to obtain a rezoning in Brewer when it tried to make the former Cottage Restaurant its new home. The church outgrew and sold its previous home on French Street in Bangor and now meets Sundays and Wednesdays in a storefront at 77 Central St.

Frankland and several members of the congregation attended Tuesday’s lengthy planning board meeting on the church’s request to rezone about one-third of a 15-acre lot from rural residence and agricultural to government and institutional service district.

The city’s planning staff is opposing the rezoning as inconsistent with the city’s comprehensive plan. Planning Officer John Lord said at Tuesday’s meeting that it was against city policy to approve such a rezoning outside the Primary Service Area, even though the church plans to install its own water and sewer systems.

There are churches located outside the Primary Service Area, where the city provides a full range of services. But they were built before the Land Development Code took effect in October 1991. On outer Broadway, the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses was built before then, and the Advent Christian Church was in the process of being built.

Also tonight, the council may have the opportunity to approve a purchase and sale agreement for 30 acres of waterfront property owned by Maine Central Railroad between Main Street and the Penobscot River.

Details have not been released for the agreement, which has been in the works for several years, but officials are hoping the final draft may be ready for council action on Monday.

Other agenda items include:

Authorizing a fund-raising effort for $110,000 to purchase an infrared thermal imaging system for the Bangor Fire Department. The department already has demonstrated the equipment, which enables firefighters to see through smoke.

Rezoning land at 145 Harlow St. to Downtown Development District to facilitate expansion of Bangor Public Library. The planning board approved the request 5-0 on Tuesday.