Arrowtown landowner and farmer Roger Monk and Arrowtown South planner John Edmonds were asked to comment on the significant opposition lodged to the plan change to allow construction of up to 215 residences on an area between McDonnell Rd and Centennial Ave, and bounded along its southern boundary by the Arrowtown golf course.
The final number of submissions was not likely to be known until Monday.
However, at least 490 were being processed by the Queenstown Lakes District Council - 425 in opposition and 63 in support, with the Arrowtown Village Association and New Zealand Fire service neutral, given water provision for firefighting.
Seven extra submissions were received on Thursday and all but one were in support.
"I'm delighted with the number of people who through their own initiative chose to support this proposal for the controlled growth of Arrowtown," Mr Monk said yesterday.
He said the large number in opposition was a cause for concern, but it was something he always considered and people were entitled to their opinion.
"I'd be more focused on the support. It's an incredibly high number in support of a development."
Mr Monk said the project was still on course and it was about letting Arrowtown extend to its natural boundaries - "and that negates the possibility of ad hoc development and the in-fill of old Arrowtown."
Mr Edmonds said the submissions would be looked at in more detail to see what issues were underlying and to see what might be accommodated.
Then they would prepare for the plan change hearings in the coming months.
An Environment Court challenge against plan change 39 was "quite possible, given it's the next step after a hearing," he said.
Mr Edmonds said existing Arrowtown sewer, water and stormwater infrastructure was capable of supporting the development, based on consultants' reports which had been reviewed by the council, which in turn had not raised any questions.
A pump station would be required and the cost would be met by the developers, he said.
Proposed residences would not have open fires, as stipulated by the Otago Regional Council's air plan.
Arguments in opposition submitted the heritage character of Arrowtown would suffer from expansion, putting pressure on infrastructure and services.
Supporting submissions described the Arrowtown South as well thought out and beneficial for both Arrowtown families who wanted to upgrade their homes and newcomers to the Wakatipu.
Dame Elizabeth Hanan, of Dunedin, who owns an Arrowtown holiday home, submitted Arrowtown schools were at capacity.
Housing extension would create a "mini Queenstown or Lake Hayes Estate, which is contrary to everything the district plan stands for and erodes the rural general zone."
Arrowtown resident David Clarke said the change sought to create another suburb like Butel Park, "totally disjointed by way of topography from the rest of town."
Berkshire St resident Jim Schmidt said the plan would make Arrowtown "just another small town with congestion and traffic problems and increased behavioural problems."
Mr Schmidt wanted a 20-year environmental study carried out to determine the infrastructure and environmental issues the development might cause.
Murray Donald, of Invercargill, said there was no demand from residents and ratepayers to suddenly extend the boundary.
The proposal to make some sections of the special zone available for limited commercial use would only serve to fragment the heart of Arrowtown, he said.
However, Glenda Wilkinson, of Auckland, said the development would allow her the opportunity to buy a section and live closer to her family.
Berkshire St resident Bruce Patton said the Arrowtown South area was the last undeveloped area within the village's natural boundaries and it was unsuitable for effective farming.
A larger population would encourage services, including a petrol station, to come to Arrowtown and make existing essential businesses, like the post office, more secure, Mr Patton said.
