A Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) public hearing on a proposed mixed-use development for 79 Church Hill Road, near Exit 10 of Interstate 84, has been postponed.

The P&Z hearing, which had been scheduled to start on January 18, has been rescheduled to start on February 15, according to the Newtown Land Use Agency.

That hearing will follow by one night the Inland Wetland Commission's (IWC) planned February 14 public hearing on the project that combines multifamily residential uses and commercial uses at the 35-acre site. The IWC hearing had initially been scheduled to start on January 10, but was rescheduled to February 14.

In its IWC application, 79 Church Hill Road, LLC, is seeking a wetlands/watercourses protection permit. In its P&Z application, the firm is seeking a change of zone, a special permit for its site development plan, and some changes in the Incentive Housing-10 (IH-10) zoning regulations.

The project, which is known as Hunters Ridge, would be a major mixed-use development in a heavily traveled area, involving 224 rental apartments, with a clubhouse for tenants, a shopping center, a medical/dental office building, and a restaurant. Forty-five of the dwellings would be designated as affordable housing. Past proposals to develop the rolling site have been controversial, drawing opposition from nearby residents.

The development proposal is subject to review by multiple town agencies.