The Spanish Fork City Council cleared the way this week for a controversial commercial development in the North Park Area.

Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to re-zone approximately 25 acres of the 40-acre plot from residential to commercial. The general plan identifies the whole area as commercial, and the other 15 acres were already zoned accordingly.

Development company Westfield Properties plans to move the 15-acre North Park to a spot in the northern end of the area in order to free up the space along 1000 North for retail development. Negotiations with at least two major retailers are under way, though no announcements have yet been made.

No timetable has been set for the development, although city officials say Westfield plans to have the stores up and running sometime in 2008.

The proposal, which has been in the works for well over a year and first became the subject of public meetings and input in November, has been touted by city officials as a much-needed commercial base and shopping opportunity for residents of Spanish Fork, which city leaders say are spending most of their shopping dollars at large stores in neighboring cities.

Residents who live near North Park, however, have strongly objected, packing public meetings to speak out against the proposal, which will displace residents of a small mobile home park and a few duplexes. Parents in the area also objected to the new park's meticulous design, which will be smaller than the present North Park and which they say will take away the last open space in their area of town.