And when it revisits the plan in two weeks, the council will leave off the 27 acres in the Fort Lane Shopping Center area, owned by a current and former state lawmaker.
The developers - Rep. Kevin Garn and former Rep. Stuart Adams - objected to the zone the city's Planning Commission endorsed for their property.
The proposed mixed-use zone would allow shops, offices and multi-family housing, but no big-box retailers, which is what Garn and Adams have been contemplating.
They were not at Thursday's council meeting, but reportedly want to attract Costco, which is about the only big-box retailer without a Layton presence. Adams is a former Layton City Council member.
Long-range planner Peter Matson said Tuesday that over the next month, city staffers will listen to developers' ideas for how a big-box retailer could work in the new zone.
But he's not hot on the idea.
The sheer size of mega-retailers and their parking lots make them destinations rather than one shop among many. In the latter, customers are encouraged to stroll and browse.
"We don't want to unduly restrict them, but we think there is a vision that needs to be adhered to," said Matson.
Layton downtown revitalization has been studied several times over the past seven years, and the proposed Downtown Plan - its adoption would amend the city's general plan - has been in the works for 18 months. The Planning Commission recommended the changes designed to make downtown a 24-hour place where people can live, work and recreate.
Citizen groups strongly urged the city to create walkable neighborhoods linked by paths over Interstate 15 and connected to the civic center, recreation complex and Layton High School.
On the west side, the plan calls for more shops and offices near the the FrontRunner commuter rail station, now under construction, and more housing to the west. In all, the study area is 280 acres.
Nearly a dozen residents spoke up at Tuesday's public hearing, with most endorsing the delay. Several spoke against big-box retailers.
"Once you do away with your small town feel, you're going to lose the people you really want to come here," said resident Pat Bodily.
