WESTBROOK – Citing the need for more public input, the Westbrook Planning Board voted on Tuesday to postpone a decision on rezoning a large parcel between Westbrook Arterial and Stroudwater Street that could lead to significant commercial and residential development.

J.B. Brown & Sons, a Portland-based developer, is looking to purchase the roughly 60-acre parcel, once the site of an ambitious development plan that was subsequently abandoned following foreclosure last year.

Vincent Veroneau, president and CEO of J.B. Brown & Sons, presented his company’s proposal to the Planning Board last month. The proposal includes rezoning the property into a roughly 45-acre zone for potential commercial development, and a 15-acre zone for possible residential development.

The land includes the site of a former development contract zone known as “Stroudwater Place,” which was first proposed by original landowner Jason Snyder in 2008. However, due to foreclosure, the land was sold back to mortgage lender Kimco Capital.

City Councilor Paul Emery said on Tuesday that while many argue that the current Stroudwater Place contract zone is too ambitious for today’s market, he believes that the litigation involving the original development deal prevented the project from taking off.

“The market did not reject this project,” he said. “The litigation prevented acquiring tenants.”

Since the foreclosure, however, Kimco has said it has no interest in pursuing the Stroudwater Place development, which was a proposed 21.6-million-square-foot project, with planned upscale retail stores such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, as well as restaurants, a skating rink and more.

Snyder spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, saying he still feels that the current contract zone is in the best interest of Westbrook.

“I have maintained that the Westbrook community deserves the best quality development,” he said.

Snyder said that he and his brother turned down an offer of $15 million for the land in 2000 due to their concern for the community.

“I cared enough about the quality of the development that $15 million did not outweigh what I thought was in the best interest of the community,” he said.

Deborah Rumery, who lives across from the property on Stroudwater Street, said Tuesday that she has heard nothing but positive things about J.B. Brown & Sons, and that while she hasn’t seen a specific plan, feels that it could be more “respectful of the neighbors.”

“I think it’s more in line with the vision that some of us have of keeping some quality of life in the community, and respecting the rural aspects of it,” she said.

Dennis Isherwood, a Planning Board member who was present for the original Stroudwater Place contract zone, said on Tuesday that the contract zone involved a long process that provided specific details about the proposed development.

“This is something I had my hand on. Right now I know what I have,” he said. “I’m very reluctant to give this up at this point, unless you can show me something.”

Veroneau said on Tuesday that the company would not develop further plans for the site until it receives the zoning change, but he added that the residential zone could possibly accommodate between 15 and 18 housing lots.

“It may have made sense in 2008, but without a zone change, that property will stay a field,” Veroneau said.

Mark Malone, a real estate broker representing Kimco Capital, said that there are roughly 15 acres of wetland in the center of the property, unknown in the original proceedings in 2008, which would make the contract zone “virtually unusable.”

Veroneau said that a neighborhood meeting is planned for Thursday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m., at Room 114 at Westbrook High School, with neighbors living within 1,000 feet invited, as well as members of the City Council, who will ultimately decide on the zoning change.

If the council decides not to support the change, the Stroudwater Place contract zone will stay in effect.