Council chief executive Jim Harland contacted the Otago Daily Times yesterday to say while a council urban design consultant had recommended a plan change to allow development should be limited to the area directly around the waterfront - stage one of the project - the project control group still wanted to include stage two.
The hearing into the matter, adjourned yesterday, heard a week's worth of evidence from businesses concerned redevelopment of the area meant they would be forced out.
Many asked for the plan change that would allow development to be scrapped, while others asked for it to be restricted to stage one.
Mr Harland said the control group included himself, Mayor Peter Chin, Chalmers Properties chief executive Andrew Duncan and Malcolm Farry as independent chairman.
The group had debated the matter over a long period.
It would take about 15 years for 70% of stage one to be occupied for new uses - stage two could not begin before that point - and it was more appropriate to rezone the entire area now.
He said it was up to the commissioners to make the decision.
Council urban design consultant Janet Reeves called for the project to be reduced in her evidence last week.
Planner Debbie Hogan said in her evidence yesterday the recommendation to rezone only stage one stood.
Mr Harland said at the time the project control group made its decision, council staff were not recommending against it, but that had changed.
Staff could change their minds before a hearing, and that had happened in this case.
"She [Ms Reeves] makes her own professional opinion," he said, which was not something he could change, even if he wanted to.
