On January 9 this year, a petition was sent to the council signed by 118 people, asking that the land be made available to the general public for purchase and development, complying with covenants that applied to existing sections on Kirkwood Rd that had already been built on.
This included minimum dwelling size, integrated garages and internal boundary fencing.
It also called for the "prompt release for the sale of the aforementioned sections to the wider community, thereby allowing a continuation of the current standard of development as seen in Kirkwood Rd".
In an accompanying letter, residents of a new development on Kirkwood Rd said they felt they had been misled by the council in regards to the proposed co-housing development.
"We primarily believe we were misled, or at minimum should have been forewarned of the proposed co-housing development being planned by the Hastings District Council and Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga.
"We request that any future development undertaken by the Hastings District Council on the land adjacent to Kirkwood Rd adhere to the covenants that we, as current residents, were led to believe was to apply to both Kirkwood Rd and the adjacent land.
"It was this understanding that was a major factor in our decision to purchase land in Kirkwood Rd," the letter said.
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst acknowledged that these people had invested in properties that they were proud of and said the council was very interested to hear their views.
She said the proposal was still very much in the concept stage and the council was yet to receive a full business plan from Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga.
"The first thing we want to do though is ensure everybody is included in the decision making. We are yet to consider all the options - whether the lots be sold as one parcel, or several parcels or a village is created."
While the council awaited a full business plan, she said she and other available councillors would meet with the petitioners tomorrow morning to discuss their concerns.
"We know there is a great need for affordable, quality housing in the Hastings district and we will be looking at how we can get this land developed, and once we see the business plan from Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, how that may be part of the mix."