The developers of the proposed redesigned Rotunda cleared the final major hurdle before breaking ground on the proposed mixed-use project in Hampden.

The Baltimore Planning Commission unanimously approved its staff's recommendation to affirm the project's design on Thursday afternoon. "The process is pretty well over… we need to pull a building permit and, you know, select a contractor and get started," said Chris Bell, a senior vice president with Hekemian & Co., the owner of the Rotunda.

The commission approved the plans over the objections of some residents along 38th Street and Elm Avenue directly across from the mall. Residents told commissioners they were concerned about the scale and the setbacks of the buildings that will be built around the perimeter of the development.

Dawn Kacey, of the 900 block of W. 38th Street, told the commissioners that the buildings were not a good fit, and out of scale with the surrounding community. "This is a quiet neighborhood. It's not downtown or the Inner Harbor," Kacey said.

Residents also said they felt like they were not properly kept in the loop about the design for the building.

Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke said there might not have been enough communication with immediate neighbors as to what was happening, but said that was no fault of the developer.

"I blame myself," Clarke said. Thomas Stosur, director of the Planning Department, praised the outreach to the community and called Hekemian's effort's "Herculean."