The Nov. 5 meeting was postponed so that developer Tom Hendrickson could compose responses to the latest round of questions from the town's planning and legal department about the project, which is slated for more than 1,000 acres near U.S. 1 and N.C. 55.

Hendrickson and his team met with Apex planners, Mayor Keith Weatherly and Town Council on Oct. 12 and received mixed reactions to the project's first official proposal, which had already gone through a dozen drafts.

Although Veridea promises to bring thousands of jobs and millions in tax revenue, developers also requested it be excused from having to comply with several town ordinances concerning signage, architecture and lighting, among others.

The postponed meeting would have been the second work session between the town and developers. But internal meetings and staff hours behind the project have been exhaustive, said town manager Bruce Radford.

"We've had thousands of man hours spent in this part of the process," he said.

Radford said, for now, most of the questions posed to Hendrickson came from Apex's legal department, but the process is far from over.

In hopes of making the process more efficient, town staff prepared a spreadsheet detailing items in agreement, disagreement or in limbo, which Hendrickson is also reviewing before the next session.

"We are very committed to working with the staff and the leadership of Apex to make Veridea a spectacular development that will contribute in a positive way to the town of Apex," Hendrickson said. "... We're looking forward to the next work session to show the council and the planning commission the progress we've made."

Radford hopes to reschedule the session for mid-November.