The cityâÂÂs march toward the northwest slowed Tuesday night.

City commissioners on Tuesday tabled a proposal for a 92-acre residential and commercial development on the southeast corner of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway.

Mayor Sue Hack noted the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission had recommended approval but also had asked city planners to come up with an âÂÂarea planâ to guide growth at the intersectionâÂÂs other three corners.

âÂÂI am concerned about approving a portion of an area but saying we need the rest of it to have a plan,â she said. âÂÂIt seems to me thatâÂÂs a backwards way of doing it.âÂÂ

The development was planned by Diamond Head LLC.

Brian Kubota, Diamond HeadâÂÂs representative, rebuked commissioners for their action.

âÂÂIf we wait and delay the project, the whole project could become unfeasible,â Kubota said.

âÂÂThis whole project is in compliance with Horizon 2020, itâÂÂs in compliance with the zoning ordinance,â he said. âÂÂI donâÂÂt think itâÂÂs right.âÂÂ

Although the entire project was tabled, it was the 32-acre commercial portion that proved critical. The intersection has been designated a âÂÂcommunity commercial center,â in which a maximum of 30 acres of commercial zoning is allowed.

Opponents said the area plan would allow the city to see how the commercial zoning could best be apportioned at the intersection. Others, including representatives of Downtown Lawrence Inc., expressed concern Lawrence already has more retail space than it can support.

âÂÂDowntown Lawrence is not anti-growth, anti-competitive,â said Maria Martin, co-director of the organization. âÂÂWhat weâÂÂre concerned about is overinvesting in commercialization that exceeds our needs at this time.âÂÂ

Kirk McClure, a Kansas University professor, said retail space in Lawrence had grown at six times the rate of consumer spending in recent years.

âÂÂIf that stays on for a long period of time, thatâÂÂs how Topeka looks like Topeka,â he said.

Kubota said approval was needed quickly so he could begin working with the Kansas Department of Transportation to ensure the planned widening of Sixth Street took his project into account.

âÂÂThis is so we can do some planning,â he said.

Commissioners said they wanted to take a bigger-picture approach to planning the intersection.

âÂÂThe planning is critical now,â Commissioner David Dunfield said. âÂÂWe cannot afford to wait and do the planning after the (zoning) approvals.âÂÂ

Hack and Dunfield were joined by Mike Rundle and Jim Henry in voting to table the proposal until planners complete the area plan, which is expected in April. Commissioner Marty Kennedy was the lone opponent.