Residents near a proposed 18 storey office tower in Gouger Street are hoping that a clause to allow a minimum two hours on ground storey dwellings in development legislation may save them from future dark days.

Proposals to be viewed tomorrow afternoon by the Capital City Committee of the Development Assessment Commission will include a 182 room/14 storey hotel, 18 storey office tower, and three other buildings of five to eight storeys high for the currently vacant block between Claxton Street and Selby Street on Gouger Street.

Local resident Tom Armitage told 891 Breakfast there were many concerns raised by local residents over the proposed developments.

"The local residents concern is that one of the buildings is double the height of what the regulations the city development plan stipulates," Mr Armitage said.

"It breaks the overshadowing rules for the area."

Mr Armitage said a report showed that the proposed buildings would overshadow up to 11 residents, with three expected not to receive a minimum two hours of direct sunlight on the Winter Solstice, the day used to establish minimum sunlight requirements.

"Because of that, the development plan for the city says the height should not be more than 22 metres."

The 18 storey building is expected to be approximately 60 metres tall, and 14 storey hotel 46 metres.

It may place quite a large development spanner in the works for a current push to invest in inner city, high-density accommodation by the State Government.

South Australian Greens leader Mark Parnell said it was not the first time residents had utilised the ruling to adjust building proposals, with a Sturt Street development able to be reduced and the building placement adjusted a few years ago.

"Adelaide is going to have to go up if we are not going to spread out at the urban fringe, but it is not all or nothing.

"It doesn't mean you have to ride rough shot over communities, it doesn't mean that you don't consult them or give them chance to challenge bad developments, and it certainly doesn't mean that you have to reach for the stars," Mr Parnell told 891 Breakfast.

The Capital City Committee of the Development Assessment Commission is expected to view the application for the development tomorrow afternoon.