Regal Cinemas in The Old Mill District could soon have six additional screens and more seating.

The Old Mill District Shops, LLC, submitted a site plan to the city of Bend to add six screens to the existing 10-screen movie theater.

”Regal has always intended to expand at some point,” said Mary Campbell, project administrator with The Old Mill District. ”Their original lease called for future expansion. They have been doing so well here in Bend that they went ahead and exercised their option to expand.”

A phone call Monday to the corporate offices of Regal Cinemas was not returned.

The cinema and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop were the first businesses to open in The Old Mill District in 2000.

Campbell said six new screens would bring 1,198 more seats.

Some of the new screens would be double the size of the existing ones, Campbell said.

”I think with the bigger number of screens and seats they have better economies of scale,” she said. ”So on the real big blockbusters, rather than have one screen showing, they can get more people in.”

The additional space will come from the property’s southeast section.

”It will still be tucked into the bluff,” Campbell said.

Quizno’s, which is located east of the movie complex, would remain in the same location.

A space would be carved out around the addition to allow the sandwich shop to keep its entrance and windows.

According to the site plan submitted to the city, the proposed expansion would eliminate 63 parking spaces. Forty-eight spaces would be added in a former lawn area along Columbia Street.

The Old Mill District Shops is also requesting a conditional use permit to exceed the maximum height limit of 35 feet, for a building height of 40 feet.

If everything is approved through city planning and building departments, Campbell said, the business hopes for the addition to be open by next summer.

Aaron Henson, with the city planning department, said he has sent notice of the application to the surrounding owners and departments that will provide comments.

After the comments are received, Henson will determine if the application is complete, and the review process will begin.

”We should have a decision for them, probably in late September,” Henson said.

Kristy Hessman can be reached at 541-383-0350 or at khessman@bendbulletin.com.