The closed-door sitting was to discuss State Administrative Tribunal mediation over the issue.

The City said confidentiality issues prevented discussions taking place in an open forum.

Council decided to support an independent planning consultant’s report which proposed a scaled-down version of the plan.

Frenchman Bay Pty Ltd director Nick Pagano said he was unable to make a comment.

“Yesterday was a closed meeting which involved only the councillors,” he said.

“I haven’t heard a thing about the decision. Until we are notified in writing about the decision I am unable to make a comment.”

The site which overlooks Whalers Beach and the remains of historical Norwegian whaling buildings once included a caravan park, chalets and a tearoom.

The development proposed by Frenchman Bay 5 Star Resort Unit Trust covers one of two titles on the site.

The original proposal for the site involved 100 units with a village centre including 16 apartments, a shop, café/restaurant and function room on a total lot size of 3.26 hectares.

Of the seven building blocks proposed on the site, four were to comprise two-storey units and three were three storeys.

Development spokesman, Dykstra Projects director Henry Dykstra, said he was hopeful the parties could reach a favourable outcome.

The application has been revised several times since it was first lodged with the City in February, 2006.

At its May meeting, council rejected the proposal as being too big for the former caravan park site overlooking Whalers Beach.

The council said developers had not provided it with sufficient information.

That discussion was also held behind closed doors following legal advice.

The development had received tacit approval from seven government agencies and met all City building codes and requirements.

Earlier this year the Frenchman Bay Progress Association overwhelmingly rejected the resort in its initial form.

The City would not reveal the outcome of the meeting’s other two items. Both also involved SAT mediation.

It was to consider a revised proposal for subdivision of a property of Grey Street East.

The third item was consideration of council’s position regarding its City of Albany Keeping and Welfare of Cats Local Law 2008.