SPRINGFIELD -- A plan to create the biggest commercial development in Springfield's history cleared a preliminary hurdle Monday night with a vote by City Council.

It didn't happen without a heated debate.

By a count of 7 to 2, council voted to rezone 500 acres just north of the Highway 60-65 interchange.  The move rezones the area to allow commercial and official development, with the possibility of building a massive retail complex on the land, with offices, restaurants and a hotel.

The majority of council members argued that this is an economic development opportunity that the city could not turn down for both economic and tourism reasons.

But in a demonstration of passionate opposition, councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky laid out her concerns in a speech that drew cheers from residents in the crowd.  Rushefsky said that too many questions remain without "convincing answers." 

"This project could discourage development in other areas of the city that could support smaller, similar projects," Rushefsky said.  "You cannot have a development of this size without environmental impact.  This is a gamble and we need to understand that," she added.

But Mayor Jim O'Neal called it an economic opportunity.

"What we're voting on here is an opportunity for economic development. How will it happen? When will it happen? Who will do it? I can't answer those questions. But I do know the market will answer those questions, the economy will answer those questions. As we go forward we have control on how to proceed," O'Neal said in a speech before the vote.

Councilman Nick Ibarra was the only other "no" vote.

Afterward, one local resident said the council left many questions unanswered with their vote.

"The eminent domain question was not really addressed and put to rest, there was a brief mention of added taxes and I think that's a pretty huge brush over that needs to be addressed. There's going to be a lot more questions that come into play," said Brent Robinson.

The mayor noted that this vote is just preliminary approval of a zoning change. 

No plans for development have yet been submitted for the Highway 60-65 land, and O'Neal promised the public would have a fair turn at shaping the proposal when it's eventually submitted.

Follow Dave Catanese's TWITTER updates HERE.

Get all of Missouri's political news at the KY3 Political Notebook.