Outlining a subdivision of the town centre, the approved development application also details the building of vital infrastructure such as roads, footpaths, car parking areas and retaining walls.

But with the future of an entire village on the table some councillors were hesitant to push ahead, saying more time was needed to finetune the plans.

"This is generational change for Lawson and it takes a generation to do it,"

Clr Kerrin O'Grady told the meeting.

"It's something that will take a long time to resolve. I don't think we've got it right yet."

Clr Lyn Trindall also urged her colleagues to "hasten slowly".

That sentiment didn't wash with Clr Chris Van der Kley, who said Lawson's business community was eager to see work begin.

"We can't keep on doing further consultation, it will only send the costs higher . . . we can't wait forever and a day," he said.

Lawson resident Dennis Hitchens, who works in one of the shops lining the highway, believes the revitalisation project will attract new residents, tourists and businesses to the area.

"Basic facilities in the main shopping centre like toilets have been denied to tourists and residents for many years now," he said.

"Highway delays . . . caused by both the bottleneck in Lawson and the connecting sections in Hazelbrook have become steadily worse, proving both insidious to residents and commuters.

"The more this process is delayed, the more local and tourist commuters will have to suffer."

Mr Hitchens said it was time to start developing a safe and more appealing town centre for Lawson and Blue Mountains residents.

The Association of Concerned Mid Mountains Residents (ACMMR), who were among the large public contingent attending the council meeting, have argued the community still has major concerns about the proposal.

For some time the group have advocated an alternate plan they say could include the RTA's highway expansion while retaining the shops along the traffic corridor.

"We're still very concerned about the demolition of the shops and the loss of heritage," said ACMMR member Erst Carmichael.

Stressing they do not oppose redevelopment, members say they are concerned the community has not been adequately consulted on a number of key issues including traffic and pedestrian movement around the village.

"Community consultation has been slotted in after they've made decisions, not beforehand," said Ms Carmichael.

For almost 40 years the anticipated widening of the Great Western Highway has been the catalyst for a new Lawson town centre.

Clrs Angel, Creed, Frappell, Hamilton, Myles, Searle and Van der Kley voted to approve the town centre DA on the condition that work begin once stormwater issues were resolved.

Clrs O'Grady and Trindall voted against.

Clrs Brown and McLaren were absent from the meeting while Clr McInnes was not in the chamber at the time of the vote.