The state Land Use Commission yesterday voted to give developers more time to make their case for a planned community on the Big Island near Waikoloa that would include include 385 low-income homes.

The commission had voted April 30 to reclassify the 1,060-acre parcel to agriculture from urban, saying developers of the Aina Le'a project had failed to show sufficient progress.

The panel yesterday voted to hold a new hearing that the developers say will allow them to present evidence that the project is on track to meet its affordable-housing pledge.

Nevada-based D.W. Aina Le'a is purchasing the project from Bridge Aina Le'a, a developer based in California.

"We'll be able to hear more evidence from the rightful petitioner and be able to determine whether the action at the April 30 meeting was appropriate." said Abbey Mayer, director of the state Office of Planning.

Bridge Aina Le'a was expected to start construction in early 2006 after the land for the project was rezoned from agricultural to urban.

But when no progress was made after three years, the commission decided to let the land use revert to its original agricultural designation.

The commission's April 30 ruling complicated matters for D.W. Aina Le'a, which said it was planning to honor the original plans for the area.

The development plan calls for a park, golf course and shopping area, in addition to the market-priced and low-income housing.

Both firms appealed to the Land Use Commission yesterday for a return to the urban use classification.

"We're going to go ahead and build the 385 (low-income) houses, because that's what the commission requires and that's what we are going to do," said Alan Okamoto, an attorney for D.W. Aina Le'a.

"I think it's a workable, practical decision. The commission's going to hear everybody out and then it's going to take another look at the decision. I think that's a very fair way to go."

Robert Wessels, D.W. Aina Le'a's managing partner, said the construction company it hired could have some homes ready by November.

The homes would be mostly three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bathroom houses priced under $200,000. Some four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bathroom homes would be available as well.

Wessels said each house could be built in 90 days or less and that its contractor, Goodfellows Construction, would be working on multiple houses at once in order to have houses ready in November.