On Tuesday, the council's finance and corporate committee adopted the submission, which QLDC chief executive Debra Lawson said would help maintain a wider community perspective on development at Frankton Flats.
Under RPL's Plan Change 34 proposal, the company wants to expand to allow for more large-format, or "big box", retailers.
RPL also wants to alter the nature and scale and hours of operation of some activities, noise controls, site and building design provisions and the height of certain buildings, and update controls at nearby Queenstown International Airport.
Although the council supports PC34 on the basis it was amended "to reflect the wider landscape context", the submission said RPL's proposal was "too weak and does not prevent poor design outcomes".
The council wants the proposal to address demands on the water network, show how the development will proceed on "good design principles", and limit the scope of the Remarkables Park urban design panel.
In his report, QLDC regulatory and corporate services manager Roger Taylor said the council had not had the chance to weigh up the merits of PC34 before it was lodged and it had "not necessarily been formulated in accordance with the existing District Plan" or the growth management or urban design strategies.
He said the council's submission was "appropriate ... in order to reserve the ability to take an active role at the hearing and to take part in any Environment Court proceedings." Ms Lawson said the council needed to "provide for integrated planning and development of the Frankton Flats area".
She said a similar approach would probably be taken with private Plan Change 43, which is being submitted by Shotover Property Investments on land next to Impact Church.
"Ensuring that the community had a voice on Frankton Flats development was critical for a number of reasons, including the future development of retail and the impact on existing retail at Frankton and in the Queenstown central business district.
"In my view, Remarkables Park has delivered a quality development that has fulfilled community needs. However, council wants to consider all future development at Frankton Flats in the context of a process that involves a good outcome for the entire area," Ms Lawson said.
