The Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to continue discussing a contract zone for a proposed development that includes a Cabela’s sporting goods store and a 200-room hotel.

However, councilors and Planning Board members told developers to plan on hard questions about traffic and design.

Developers New England Expedition were required to apply for a contract zone on the Haigis Parkway because zoning there does not allow for buildings larger than 20,000 square feet. Developers have proposed building a 130,000-square-foot Cabela’s. None of the other buildings proposed are larger than the zoning allows.

The next step will be a meeting about Cabela’s between Town Manager Ron Owens and Gov. Baldacci. Owens said the meeting will most likely be early next week, and has asked councilors to attend.

The other purpose of Tuesday’s meeting was to give the Planning Board a chance to offer initial advice to the developers. The Board warned the developers to take a better look at the town’s design standards.

Board Chairwoman Susan Auglis told developer Gene Beaudoin to study traffic and work on changing proposed signs at the development.

“Let’s underline it in red 12 times,” said Auglis. “Traffic, traffic, traffic, traffic. We’re reaching critical mass here.”

“The Planning Board is not concerned about whether this will make money for the town or whether it’s good for the Haigis Parkway,” she added. “We’re also not interested in the quality of employment Cabela’s offers. That’s not our job.”

Auglis also read a list of concerns written by Board member Michael Wood who could not attend. In his letter, he said the 30-foot sign Cabela’s is proposing would “cheapen” the town.

“We are very fortunate that Cabela’s wants to come,” said Auglis. “I don’t have a problem with the building, I do have a huge problem with the signage.”

While some councilors were not as concerned with the design of the building, they did ask questions about traffic.

Cabela’s representative Ed Eckman said they expect 90 percent of traffic for Cabela’s to come from the Turnpike. With an estimated 3 million visitors a year, traffic will be heavy.

Councilor Patrick O’Reilly said he doubted most traffic would come from the Turnpike since Scarborough is more developed than many other Cabela’s locations. In some places, Cabela’s was originally the only store.

Chairman Steve Ross agreed. “I think this could have a town-wide impact on traffic,” he said.

Overall, councilors, board members and some Scarborough residents told Eckman and the developers they are excited about what Cabela’s could bring, including about 300 new jobs and increased tourism. According to Eckman, Cabela’s stores often become the top tourist attraction in their area with visitors staying for hours and traveling up to 150 miles. Long travel times mean shoppers might stay in local hotels, stimulating the economy, said Eckman.

“I don’t think this type of massive retail is what we envisioned,” said Ross. “But when I look at the whole picture, this is probably as good as we’re going to get.”

“This is pretty darn good,” said councilor Jeffrey Messer. “I think the end result will be good for everyone.”

Resident Richard Sullivan was also in favor of allowing Cabela’s to come to Scarborough. “The store is just phenomenal,” he said. “It’s well worth changing whatever needs changing to get it here.”

Glenn Grant, who recently sold his portion of the Haigis Parkway to New England Expedition, told the council and the board he also supports Cabela’s.

“We have a real opportunity here to see a fine gateway to Scarborough,” he said. “And I’m not saying that as someone who will profit from it, I’m saying that as a Scarboroughite.”