BANGOR – The developer of a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter officially withdrew its application to develop the property on the corner of Stillwater Avenue and Gilman Road, according to a Thursday letter to city officials.

The Widewaters Group, a New York-based developer, opted to officially withdraw the proposal in order to “further evaluate the issues raised at public hearings” on the matter, according to Kevin Kane, an architect at the firm.

The plan, which called for a 224,000 square-foot Wal-Mart, with about 900 parking places, ran into stiff opposition from environmentalists who questioned the development’s potential effect on the nearby Penjajawoc Marsh, home to a number of the state’s threatened or endangered bird species.

The city planning board, after granting three extensions on the application, issued a Jan. 2 deadline to hear the case.

Faced with the deadline and unresolved issues, the developer opted to withdraw the application, Kane said. The withdrawal does not mean an end to the project, say city planning officials, who expect Widewaters to file a new application after resolving environmental and traffic issues with state agencies.

Valerie Carter, chairwoman of Bangor Area Citizens Organized for Responsible Development, a group opposing the Wal-Mart plan, said the withdrawal was expected. She said the group would continue to organize opposition to the plan, which would develop 27 acres behind Circuit City.

“We are certainly going to keep on top of this issue and continue doing our work on educating people,” Carter said.

Wal-Mart currently has a store on Springer Drive in Bangor.