BANGOR – While they took no action Wednesday night, city councilors directed staff to negotiate an extension requested by the developer of an upscale condominium unit proposed for a city-owned parcel at Bangor Waterfront.

Councilors issued that directive after more than half an hour discussing the deal in executive session.

An extension of its option agreement with the city would allow project developer Penview Associates LLC to move forward with its $12 million project, a 28-unit condo complex called Belvedere on the Riverpark, without missing some key deadlines set forth in its development agreement with the city.

If the terms can be worked out in time, the extension will go before the City Council for a vote during its next regular meeting, set for 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

The complex is proposed for a city-owned parcel at the corner of Railroad and Summer streets, the only one designated for residential use in the city’s waterfront master plan.

Councilor Frank Farrington, one of six councilors who attended Wednesday’s meeting, said that as he saw it, the council’s job was “to make sure we have the best use of city land.

“My concern is that we have enough safety [built in] so that if this thing doesn’t fly, the city doesn’t lose control” of a prime waterfront development parcel.

Bangor attorney Thomas Russell, who is representing the developer, noted that no deed would be issued until Penview had met all of its obligations to the city, “so don’t think you’re going to lose control of the land.”

During a meeting with members of the council’s business and economic development committee, Penview principal Brian Ames and his legal counsel asked for an extension of up to seven weeks, which would push the groundbreaking back to mid-August. Ames and Russell said they did not need to extend the completion deadline, now set for Sept. 30 of next year.

Russell and Ames said they were entitled to negotiate an extension because the city did not obtain title to a needed parcel adjacent to the waterfront development site from its former owner, Christopher Hutchins, until January.

Under the option agreement, the title to the parcel was supposed to have been dealt with by last November. It was not because a mortgage on the parcel needed to be cleared up first.

While Penview has met all of the deadlines that have come up so far, city Economic and Community Development Director Rod McKay confirmed, it is asking that the city revisit several deadlines coming up in the next few months, namely:

. May 3, when evidence of all necessary permits, licenses and government approvals are due to the city.

. May 4, the deadline for notifying the city in writing of intent to exercise the option.

. June 1, by which time Penview must submit evidence of financing and a construction contract.

. June 2, the date set for the real estate closing.

. June 30, the date by which construction is supposed to begin.