Development at Northcross Mall has been temporarily suspended after the City of Austin worked out a deal with Wal-Mart.

According to a news release from Austin City Councilmember Mike Martinez' office, development activities will be halted for 60 days so Wal-Mart can gather more input from residents in the area surrounding the mall.

Northcross Mall, which is located at Burnet Road and Anderson Lane in North Austin, is surrounded by a number of neighborhoods, including Allandale, Rosedale, Crestview and Brentwood.

Since the development was announced last month, many of the residents have organized to oppose the development. Many were concerned about traffic the big-box retailer would bring to the area, and they took their concerns and a petition with more than 3,500 signatures to Austin City Council.

City officials say Wal-Mart voluntarily suspended any plans, including permitting, so it could answer any questions and confer with neighborhood representatives. The city council is expected to hear public comment on the issue at its next meeting on Thursday.

Northcross Mall developers had presented the Wal-Mart plan as a way to revitalize the mall, which has been struggling for many years. The planned Wal-Mart was called an urban store, with 180,000 square feet, two stories and a three-story parking garage.