LEWISTON — Worried they might be interfering in a political discussion, members of the Planning Board voted 5-2 Monday to stop an unofficial discussion of a controversial housing development.

A majority of the board agreed to withhold their opinions on Phyllis St. Laurent’s Pierce Place housing development until after a city vote on the matter.

“We have a referendum on the ballot, and we literally disparage that whole process if we make any indication at all that this is a project that’s viable and should be supported by the voters,” board member Paul Madore said.

City councilors approved the development this spring, but a group of local landlords collected enough signatures to force a public vote. Voters will decide at the polls Nov. 4.

“I would encourage a thumbs up, thumbs down vote in favor of tabling this so we don’t get our personal feelings involved,” member Kevin Morissette.

Jim Hatch, of Developer’s Collaborative, said he had hoped to get feedback from the board to help guide the design before he files it with the Maine State Housing Authority in October.

“Prior to the ballot, we have to present our proposal because that’s their deadline,” Hatch said. “We have to operate under the assumption that the vote will go in our favor before we submit to Maine Housing. We have to be prudent because there are zoning issues here and we wanted to know where we stand.”

St. Laurent hopes to build 29 units with a total of 77 bedrooms spread over three buildings, 32 off-street parking spaces and a large green space area between the buildings. Her apartments would replace buildings she owned at 149 Bartlett St., and 110 and 114 Pierce St. that were destroyed in a rash of downtown fires May 2013.

It would be a $5 million project with subsidized rents and federal Section 8 housing vouchers tied to the development.

The project would be aimed at families making 60 percent of the median income — about $33,700 for a family of four.

The initial plan called for all of the units in a single building.

“What we really wanted to do was create something in keeping with the existing neighborhood, and not come back with a big elevator building facing one street and the yard covered with parking,” Hatch said.

Those differences were noticed by several members of the Planning Board. Chairman Bruce Damon said it was vastly improved. He and member Walter Hill were the dissenting voters Monday, both arguing that it was an appropriate topic for the board.

“Regardless of how we feel about this politically, we should have the same input,” Hill said. “We should be able to provide some feedback. If we like it or we don’t, they brought it before us to get our input. We should be happy they brought it before us.”

City Planner David Hediger said staff was hoping to get the board’s opinion on the matter of parking. Zoning codes on the lot call for 58 off-street parking spaces, more than double what Hatch and St. Laurent are proposing. Hatch said they could build all of the parking they needed if they sacrificed the green space and built a single, multistory building.

“We do not believe more parking will be necessary,” Hatch said. “Historically, the units that were there did not require more parking. It’s our feeling that one space per unit, plus a couple of extra spaces, should be sufficient.”

Hediger said staff believes the project could be successful with 29 off-street parking spaces.

“Parking, whether this has enough or not, it would be good to get a sense about whether we need to be thinking about parking standards,” Hediger said. “I don’t know if 32 is the magic number or if 58 is the magic number. But my impression, based on previous discussions with you, is that on-street parking should be considered in the downtown.”

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