"We haven't planned for any development there. We planned for it to be through traffic to the university, schools, town and then peoples residences. So inevitably that is going to be a lot of extra cost to council.
"If you have a Mitre10 on the corner of Ruakura Road and Wairere Drive how are people going to get into it? I don't know how that is going to work."
Deputy Mayor Gordon Chesterman said: "The Mitre10 I believe will signal the development that will occur around the container port (inland port) because there is a block of land that will take a small shopping centre and potentially another supermarket going in there."
Mr Chesterman said the application has been put on hold while it is referred to an independent commissioner, as the development is seeking traffic movement on to Wairere Drive. The complex will include a cafe and a garden centre.
When the land was rezoned industrial, residents were concerned about industry such as panelbeaters due to the noise, but the noise of a Mitre10 will be much less, Mr Chesterman said. "This should make them much more relaxed."
The Mitre10 would be near the proposed Countdown supermarket on Peachgrove Road.
The $23m supermarket was granted consent by Independent Planning Commissioner Alan Withy, following a hearing on June 23.
The approval is subject to 52 different conditions.
Countdown have said the supermarket will create up to 100 new jobs and engage dozens of local construction workers and building contractors.
Countdown's general manager for property Adrian Walker says Hamilton East is a community the company is keen to employ and invest in.
Adrian said the design acknowledges the area's history, and will fit in with the area.
It will include 192 car parks and 14 cycle parks.
While the timeframe hasn't been finalised, the company is hoping to be on site later this year.