Progress on the controversial Potala Village project has been stalled another six months as the Kirkland City Council unanimously voted to extend the moratorium during a council meeting on Tuesday.

The council initially voted to place an emergency 60-day moratorium on both of the city’s Neighborhood Business(BN)-zoned properties – including Potala Village – on Nov. 19.

The other BN-zoned property is in the Bridle Trails neighborhood at N.E. 70th St. and 132nd Avenue N.E. That property does not have any proposed developments at this time.

The issue with BN-zoned properties is that they are zoned to have unlimited density.

The four-story Potala Village project at 10th Avenue South and Lake Street South would have 116 residential units per acre. The largest zoned properties in the area are zoned for 12 units per acre.

Surrounding residents, who are upset at the scale of the proposed development, filed nine appeals with the city over the project in October.

The moratorium will allow the city sufficient time to review amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and zoning regulations relating to BN zones.

The Planning Commission will provide recommended amendments to the BN-zoning regulations in April 2012, prior to the expiration of the moratorium.