Developers of the Stoney Creek Retirement Village wanted to remove three of the English ash trees from the line-up - which they claimed were diseased - to open up access to the Meadowstone site.
Queenstown Lakes commissioners John Matthews, of Queenstown, and David Whitney, of Alexandra, declined resource consent for the development in July.
The developers have since appealed that decision to the Environment Court and Queenstown Lakes councillors voted to hold mediation talks about the retirement village proposal.
QLDC parks manager Gordon Bailey categorically ruled out any connection between the removal of trees and the council's mediation talks with Stoney Creek developers.
"There is no connection at all. The seven trees identified are not the ones, which [the Stoney Creek developers] wanted to remove," he said.
The seven diseased specimens were scattered through the avenue of 40 trees, and could be felled after the summer season, Mr Bailey said.
