Wal-Mart still can’t build a new store at the northwest corner of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence city commissioners said Tuesday.

Commissioners extended a ban on issuing building permits at the corner for an additional three months, as lawsuits continue to swirl around the 52-acre patch of land.

“I would not want to extend the moratorium indefinitely,” Mayor David Dunfield said, after the commission’s unanimous vote. “I think we do need to resolve this — this rezoning question at this intersection.”

At issue are Wal-Mart and 6Wak Land Investments’ plans for a 120,000-square-foot store at the corner.

Wal-Mart applied for a building permit May 8, only to have it denied by city officials — a standoff that would prompt the company and 6Wak to file several lawsuits that are pending in Douglas County District Court.

The city argues that the proposed Wal-Mart would be a department store, and as such would be prohibited from the commercial-zoned land at the corner. Wal-Mart and 6Wak say the store would be a variety store, and therefore qualify.

“Your efforts to stop Wal-Mart are failing,” said Bill Newsome, a 6Wak partner.

6News video: Wal-Mart moratorium approved again More about the Wal-Mart controversy

Commissioners are seeking to have the property’s commercial zoning changed, so that such a large commercial store could not be built. Commissioners’ requests for zoning changes are scheduled to be reviewed tonight by the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission, which meets at 6:35 at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.