Orange City Council unanimously agreed to defer their decision on Monday evening to give Street Smart Property and Orange City Council a chance to redesign aspects of the proposal.

The DA calls for the demolition of the former nursery on the corner of Bathurst Road and Eyles Street and a home in Eyles Street to build a neighbourhood centre consisting of shops, restaurants, bottle shop and takeaway food outlets.

Council planners recommended the project be deferred over concerns about the impact of the plan on parking and visual amenity. The site borders the East Orange Heritage Conservation Area.

Street Smart Property managing director Jenny Atkinson said representatives had already met with council staff on Tuesday morning to map out the road ahead.

“We’re still disappointed by the result but are pleased council has publicly committed to working closely with us to make it work,” she said.

When asked how far Street Smart Property was willing to alter its plans, Ms Atkinson said the developers would have to look at every aspect as it works with council.

Orange City Council development services director David Waddell told Monday night’s Sustainable Development Committee meeting the door was open to reach a compromise.

“But it will come down to how quickly the proponent can come up with a quality development that can be approved,” Mr Waddell said.

Mayor John Davis told the meeting he was deeply troubled about events that had led to the DA being deferred.

“I’m very concerned about it,” he said.

“Here we have a developer willing to pour over a million dollars into that site but we’re in a position where we can’t allow them to do it.

“I really do hope council staff and the developer can get together because there are lot of people saying it shouldn’t go ahead but also a lot saying that it should.”