Change some boxes around on a map, alter their sizes and take the word “Wal-Mart” out of the equation, and you get a much better reception when you bring your development plans to the Lincoln City Council.

No roomful of opponents, no anti-Wal-Mart signs, no letters to the editor, no mayor threatening a veto.

This time around, the northeast Lincoln development at 84th and Adams streets was unable to inspire a single Lincoln resident to show up at the Monday night City Council meeting.

It’s been more than a year since Mayor Coleen Seng threatened to veto the Prairie Village North development because it included a big box store — a 230,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter — that she said was too big for the area. She said the big box should be limited to 175,000 square feet.

So the developer came back with plans that include not one, but two 175,000-square-foot big box stores. And nobody cared. At least not enough to show up.

Developer Steve Champoux’s new plans call for two big boxes with a more pedestrian-friendly “town center” in the middle.

Last year after Seng said the big box should be limited to 175,000 square feet, Wal-Mart spokesmen said that would be too small for them. But Champoux told the Journal Star Monday that while he doesn’t have anchor tenants yet, he’s still talking to both Target and Wal-Mart.

“It’s wide open right now,” he said. “I’ve never stopped working with both of them.“

The new plans call for about a half million square feet of retail space, more than 300,000 square feet of office space and 540 homes and 267 townhomes and apartments.

The only issue that was remotely controversial was the Public Works Department’s opposition to two “right in, right out” driveways the developer wanted along 84th Street. But even that issue was ironed out when the developer agreed to just one.

The council will decide whether to OK the development and annex another 23 acres for it next week.

Champoux’s attorney, Peter Katt, said if the plans are approved, they hope to begin moving dirt in March.

In other business Monday, the City Council:

 Approved a motion to reconsider its decision last week not to pay for a new road near a future Hy-Vee grocery store at 50th and O streets. In approving Councilman Ken Svoboda's motion, the council noted that it is only agreeing to consider a possible new arrangement to pay for the street with the help of nearby property owners.

Agreed to sell 19 acres of land at Northwest 48th Street and West Cumings to the school district for a new school. The city will retain a few acres for a possible recreation center, pool or parks. The city may co-locate a mini-library with the school that would only be open when the school is closed.

Delayed action for a week on a pilot early retirement incentive program for city employees. The incentive is a $15,000 contribution to the employee’s Post-Employment Health Plan (a tax-free investment account employees use for health care costs after they retire) and an additional 15 percent sick leave payout over and above the employee’s normal payout. To be eligible, employees would have to be older than 62 or age 55 with at least 20 years of city service.

Delayed for one week the redevelopment agreement and annexation for a development near the 56th Street and Interstate 80 interchange. The developer and city had not yet come to an agreement on a couple of sentences in the agreement.

Heard public testimony on renaming seven blocks of 15th Street Goodhue Boulevard to honor Bertram Goodhue, architect of the state Capitol. The council will vote next week.

Delayed action for a week on an appeal of a soil mining permit the city-county Planning Commission approved for land along U.S. 77 between Waverly and Mill roads. Neighbors have environmental and safety concerns.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.