Lawrence’s growth toward the northwest took a step forward Wednesday night as planning commissioners recommended approval of what one of them termed one of “the most important” land use decisions they’ll face.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission put its stamp of approval on the rezonings and a preliminary plat for 92 acres of residential and commercial development on the southeast corner of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway. The property, which is owned by Diamond Head Limited Partnership, a group of Taiwanese investors, now is zoned for agricultural use.

“This strikes me as the most important development that I’ve looked at  or will look at  since I’ve been on the commission,” Commissioner David Burress said.

But developers expecting the area to become another regional shopping center may have had their hopes dashed Wednesday. Commissioners said the 32 acres of planned commercial development they approved for the corner is all they expect to approve at that intersection.

“I can’t see supporting commercial at more than one corner of this intersection, based on what I know,” Commission Chairman Tom Jennings said.

Planning Director Linda Finger said she expected a proposal to develop the intersection’s northeast corner, perhaps as soon as Friday.

It’s likely to be stuck in short-term limbo, however. Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously ordered planners to develop an “area plan” for the remaining three corners of the intersection within six months. They will wait until that plan is completed to hear any new proposal.

The order came after three planning commissioners (David Burress, John Haase and Myles Schachter) opposed the commercial portion of the Diamond Head project, saying the commission should wait for an area plan before approving any commercial for the intersection.

Commissioner Roger Schenewerk was absent from the meeting. The rezonings go to the Lawrence City Commission in mid-November for final approval.

Brian Kubota, Diamond Head’s representative, said quick approval would help him work with state and city officials to ensure streets, sewers and other infrastructure were properly planned for the site before building starts.

He said such planning might have prevented debates and city spending at 31st and Iowa streets, where the city is improving the intersection to make way for a Home Depot-anchored commercial development. It also would avoid clashes like those over a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter at Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive, he said.

“It’ll be nice if all the neighbors know what’s going to happen (commercially) before we build the first house,” Kubota said.

He said the commercial development wouldn’t occur until the state widened Sixth Street, no sooner than late 2006; he said several commercial developers have expressed interest in the site. The first 45 lots in the residential development will be built when nearby George Williams Way is completed in late 2004.

“This part is all sold,” he said of the 45 proposed homes. “If it wasn’t sold, we wouldn’t be here.”