Takapuna locals are hosting a public meeting with Auckland Council on Sunday afternoon over plans to renovate a carpark into a town square.
Plans to sell the Anzac Ave carpark have long been opposed, but public voting on three different options for the space closes soon.
Heart of Takapuna spokesperson Ruth Jackson wants everyone to vote to keep the land in public ownership.
"What we want is for the council to rescind its decision to sell the land. We think the only way forward at this point is to put the matter back in the hands of the local board."
Ms Jackson says all the options will result in a miserable "Trojan horse" overshadowed by nine-storey buildings, and the community and local board can come up with a new design.
"Seeing how Takapuna is affected by the huge growth that we know is coming, and then do something better in future than the rather miserable offer they've made to us now."
But Takapuna Beach Business Association chief executive Terrance Harpur says people need to grab hold of development plans with both hands.
"If we pass this by, they will move onto another town centre and we won't be looked at again for at least a decade."
Mr Harpur says the group's alternative plans are too expensive.
"They really require Auckland Council to invest $60-$80 million, or the other option is to raise rates significantly - and I don't think Takapuna residents are ready for that."
He also says fears of nine-storey buildings are unwarranted.
"They've got step-back rules for how high the towers need to be, how big they need to be, what sort of greenery they need to have."
Auckland Council's planning committee voted 13-8 to revamp the carpark. The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board was unanimously against it, Stuff reported in March.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said at the time discussions on the plans had gone on long enough.
Newshub.
