HUNTINGTON BEACH – What loomed as the most volatile issue of the night at the City Council meeting fizzled early.

A wave of applause erupted early in the meeting Monday when City Clerk Joan Flynn announced she had received a letter in which the proposed developer for a 2-acre piece of downtown property withdrew its offer to buy the land and build homes on the city property.

Christopher Homes – which had made an $11 million offer to buy the site at Orange Avenue and 17th Street with the intention of building 22 homes and a small park on land currently occupied by a senior center – pulled out in the face of mounting opposition.

The Michael Rodgers Senior Center is slated to move to Central Park in 2016, meaning the land will be vacant. The city wanted to sell the land to a home developer, but many residents have opposed the move.

More than 30 speakers had lined up at the meeting and about 90 letters received in opposition to the deal.

Opponents argue that when voters approved moving the senior center in 2006, it was with the understanding the land on Orange Avenue would remain public. The land had been deeded to the city by Chevron in 1917 with a covenant that it be maintained for public or recreational use.

The city contends that agreement had lapsed.

Before any home building could have begun, the project would have required voter approval, which appeared increasingly less likely.

Bill Holman, vice president of land development for Christopher Homes, said his group withdrew “with mixed feelings” but defended the plan.

“I think the proposal that was before the City Council to develop a new park on that land with some homes has a lot of merit to generate revenue to enhance and improve the city’s park plan,” he said.

Councilman Erik Peterson entered an item on the agenda to discuss rescinding the city’s agreement with Christopher Homes, but withdrew it after the letter from Christopher Homes was received.

Two developers that had made offers to buy and build on the land had dropped out before Christopher Homes made its offer.

Despite the rescinding of the land sale offer, more than 30 residents chose to speak about the issue anyway, many asking that the land be converted into park or play space and urging the council not to engage in any other efforts to sell the land to private owners.

Most of the comments were in line with those of homeowner Jasenn Zajian, who wrote to ask the council to “Preserve the Rodgers Senior Center site for needed public use, as mandated by the original agreement. It is our children we are speaking for.”

Eric Bower, a longtime resident, said, “To trade public land for private use is wrong.”

He urged any future councils to determine that the site “remain as public land in perpetuity.”