Lawrence city commissioners will wait one more week before deciding whether to give approval to a major downtown development project — the second deferral of the issue in two weeks.

Commissioners decided on the delay Tuesday because a resolution setting out the justification for the project wasn’t made available to the public until earlier in the day.

“This project is going to affect our city for generations,” Commissioner Boog Highberger said. “I’m not sure one more week’s delay is unacceptable, given the circumstances.”

But developer Bo Harris was frustrated.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” he said after the meeting. “I think everybody has had time to consider this project. For us, it just makes the project that much more expensive when we finally deliver it.”

Harris’ plans call for a 100,000-square-foot building that would include 32 loft-style condominiums, retail stores, offices and a 52-space underground parking garage at the northeast corner of Eighth and New Hampshire streets.

The proposed building would be as much as 72 feet — the original plan of 78 feet was reduced in the face of neighborhood objections about height — and five stories tall, higher than zoning code limits of 45 feet and four stories. By comparison, the Eldridge Hotel at Seventh and Massachusetts streets is 63 feet tall, while the US Bank building at Ninth and Massachusetts streets is 77 feet tall.

Before they can give approval to the project, commissioners must overrule a finding by the city’s Historic Resources Commission that the project would “encroach upon, damage or destroy” the environs of two nearby historic buildings — the Eldridge Hotel and the News Center, 645 N.H., both of which are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The News Center is home to the Journal-World and 6News reporting staffs.

City commissioners will wait another week to act on developer Bo Harris' request to build a five-story, multiuse building on the corner of Eighth and New Hampshire streets. The site, shown in an aerial view Tuesday, is south of Borders Books Music and Cafe at 700 N.H.

To overrule the Historic Resources Commission, the City Commission must adopt “findings of fact” that explain why its action is justified.

The resolution setting out those findings wasn’t made public until Tuesday, raising objections from East Lawrence neighborhood residents and their allies.

“I think that the time frame is a little compressed on an issue of this magnitude,” said Ed Tato, president of the East Lawrence Neighborhood Assn.

Commissioner Sue Hack said the justifications in the resolution were based on the commission’s previous discussion.

“I think there has been adequate time, adequate input,” she said. “I don’t think the public has been slighted one bit.”

¢ Project creeps toward approval (7-9-03)¢ 6News video: City seeks more data on condo project¢ 78-foot structure gets go-ahead (7-3-03)

Highberger favored the delay, however, supported by Commissioner David Schauner. With Commissioner Mike Rundle absent, Hack and Mayor David Dunfield had no choice but to go along.

“Obviously, we’re split on this tonight anyway,” Dunfield said. “I want to see this project go forward with as much support as we can develop for it. I can’t imagine that anybody is going to change their minds at this point.”

The commission next meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.