FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A long-delayed development project in downtown Fort Pierce is getting more time.

City commissioners voted 3-2 Monday night to give the developer of King’s Landing another six months to secure the additional $15 million it says it needs to build a planned $65 million Marriott hotel.

The decision came after a lengthy discussion over whether the city should continue working with developer Live Oak or end the agreement.

Pretty much everyone agrees Fort Pierce needs a downtown hotel. The planned project would sit along the city’s waterfront and is expected to bring millions of dollars in economic activity to the area.

“We’d be delighted to have a Marriott here,” Fort Pierce resident Charlie Hagg said.

But after years of delays, some community members told commissioners they believe the city has waited long enough.

“It’s time to kick them to the curb,” said Howard Dunn Jr. of Fort Pierce. “It’s time to move on, cut the losses.”

Others supported giving the developer another six months.

“Let’s listen to what they have to say. Six months is not that long,” Jamie Hurst said.

Live Oak is planning a $65 million Marriott hotel as part of the $200 million King’s Landing development.

The developer told commissioners it still needs to raise another $15 million to move forward and asked for a six-month extension.

Joe Collier, a hotel operating and hospitality partner, said the team will use a different approach to raising the money and needs additional time to put that plan into action.

“We’re going to get in the trenches with Bill and help him raise the money in a different way but need time to do it,” Collier said.

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Commissioners were divided over the future of project.

The developer has already missed a key deadline under its agreement with the city, prompting some commissioners to push for termination.

“This is in material breach,” Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky said. “We need to stop now because if we do another amendment it continues to weaken us.”

Commissioner Michael Broderick argued that ending the agreement could create even more delays, including the possibility of another round of negotiations with a new developer and a lengthy legal battle.

“If we pull the plug on this deal now, we’re looking at 10 years of turnaround time before we’re going to have anything completed over there,” Broderick said. “This project is integrally critical to the City of Fort Pierce. “We need a downtown hotel. We need more downtown retail.”

Commissioners ultimately voted 3-2 to give Live Oak six more months to secure the additional $15 million.

“The citizens of City of Fort Pierce do not want to wait 10 years. They want this done now,” Broderick said.

A new agreement will be drafted over the next 30 days. Then, Live Oak will have six months to secure the additional funding needed for the hotel.

If the project stays on track, city leaders say construction could begin in roughly one to one-and-a-half years.