GUELPH — Guelph city council gave the proposed new police headquarters a conditional sentence when it passed the 2014 budget last week and Police Chief Bryan Larkin says he OK with that.

He and his administrative team have a few months to work with other city departments including planning, engineering and downtown Guelph to fully explore the size, scope and possible relocation of a new police headquarters.

The police service was directed last Thursday to present a business case for a larger, refurbished police station to councillors in the New Year and if council is satisfied the project will go forward.

Council included the $34-million police station in the capital budget based on meeting this condition.

Putting the project on pause is a good thing, Larkin said in an interview on the weekend.

"Our position is 'let's do this right,'" Larkin said. "This gives us the opportunity to focus on the city plan, the community plan and see how we can fit the downtown plan."

Council's decision to support the project in principle, is a "strong signal they understand the need for this infrastructure expansion," he said, adding he too was surprised to learn the original estimate of $13 million neglected to consider a number of important features that would be needed in a new police station, and missed costing some new square footage altogether. That is why the original estimate has jumped to $34 million.

"There was a shock factor. There was the 'oh my' factor. I think the community is beginning to understand this is not a grandiose expenditure. This is required."

Larkin said the police service has always wanted to keep police headquarters downtown and that remains his personal preference.

"I'm a traditionalist in that way," he said. "Historically, police headquarters have been built in downtowns and personally I like that. But if there are other viable options, we'll look at them. We'll look at Wyndham Street, but we'll look across the city for locations."