TIVERTON — It was as passionate an outpouring of public opinion as this town has seen in at least a decade.

Over 500 citizens (estimated by Tiverton Fire Chief Robert Lloyd) turned out Tuesday night for a Town Council hearing in the high school auditorium.

They were there to speak about whether the town's Comprehensive Community Plan (the Comp Plan) and zoning ordinances should be changed to allow Carpionato Development Group to build a 20-building, 63.4 acre mixed use development between Souza Road and Route 24. The projected project cost for the project, the town's largest ever, is estimated by the developers at $80-$100 million.

The auditorium was packed (its capacity was said to be 592). The hearing began late at 7:35 and ended at close to 11:30 p.m., having only progressed part way through the first of two items on the agenda.

The issue at the end of the evening became whether to continue the public hearing, or close it.

"It is our job, whether we like it or not, to hear from people at a public meeting," said council member Brett Pelletier. There were still people left on the sign-up list of speakers who'd not been heard, though many had left.

The council then voted 5-2 to continue the hearing — and not to close it — to July 20, beginning at 7 p.m. in the same venue, the Tiverton High School auditorium.

No other substantive votes were taken, though it appeared (from their vote against continuing the hearing) that Councilors Dave Perry and Jay Lambert supported getting to a vote Tuesday night on the Comp Plan amendments.

That left a lot to be accomplished on July 20.

The hearing opened with an admonition from Council President deMedeiros, who said she wanted to make sure "everyone has a chance to speak."

"Please respect each other … I ask that while peopple are speaking you keep quiet and you do not comment on what they're saying, because everyone has the right to their own opinion."

Not long into the meeting, after Kevin Cote had said that "traffic congestion is going to be significant," and that "tax benefits won't come soon," and that "malls are dying," Council member Joe Souza interrupted testimony from the public, to say, "the point needs to be made that this is private property," and had once been zoned commercial in the past.

"Shut up," a man shouted out at Mr. Souza.

"If you say that again, you will be asked to leave," Council President deMedeiros said to the unidentified man in the audience and banging the gavel.

A few minutes, and a few speakers later, the first of two men was ejected.

The police report for the incident said, "a female party was addressing the town council and … was interrupted by a town council member. At this time, a male party … proceeded to stand up and point his finger at members of the town council."

The man, said the report, "proceeded to raise the volume of his voice and address the town council as 'liars.' ''

The nature of his comments was was "tumultuous," said police, and "therefore the president of the town council asked officers" to have the man "escorted out of the building."

The second ejection came later when a man, dressed in a white suit, casual tan open-necked shirt, and wearing Hollywood sunglasses, took the podium.

By turns addressing the council, and turning to face the audience with arms waving, he said something about calling himself Mr. Mall, while mentioning Starbucks, Gray's Ice Cream, and what sounded like "caramel macchiatto" and his alignment with the Don't Mall Tiverton group.

He too was escorted from the building, and (an offical later said) "almost got himself cuffed."

There was some support for the Carpionato proposal. "I'm in favor of this development," said Peter Moniz, the town's tree warden and a former member of the planning board. The area is best for commercial development, and is right on the highway, he said.

An avid bicyclist, Mr. Moniz, suggested an amendment to the Comp Plan, which he handed to the council, that would propose an area be set aside in the development for bicycles.

Another man spoke in favor of the project. "I'm definitely for Tiverton Glen," he said, saying jobs would be good for the community.

But then he said, "this development needs to be tailored to this town," and that "I'm for Tiverton Glen but not for this particular proposal."

For those keeping score, for and against, the best information came from Susan Anderson, who lives across Main Road from the point where Carpionato proposes to constuct its main entrance to the mega-development.

Ms. Anderson counted 56 speakers who opposed changing the comprehensive plan, and only three who supported its change. Only citizens arriving through the main doors at the back of the auditorium, were asked to sign up to be heard. Others entering from the outside through side or back doors weren't counted, nor presented with the sign-up sheets.

"I have 82 speakers and I'm at number 17," said Council President Denise deMedeiros at 8:15 p.m. It's not clear whether she meant she had 82 left at that point, or had that total to begin with.

Whatever, by the time the meeting ended, many people had left, and over 20 who'd signed up to speak had not had the chance to do so. Since the hearing is continued, it appears they will be able to speak on July 20, along with others who sign up at that time.

The number of those opposing the amendment of the Comp Plan, or of those who support the amendments, is hard to gauge.

But some estimation of the opposition is available.

"In my hand, I hold 1,500 signatures of your constituents who say no to changes in the Comp Plan. Just today we got another 50," said Renee Jones, one of the organizers of the group Don't Mall Tiverton shortly after Tuesday's hearing opened.

Later, Barbara Martin said she'd gone along Main Road and obtained the signatures of 36 small business owners who oppose the development.

"They know it will hurt their businesses," she said. "They fear it will bring a tsunami that will change their businesses."

The first item on the July 20 continued agenda is the proposal — offered by the Carpionato Group and as recommended by the Town planning board — to amend the Comp Plan in such a way as to allow Carpionato to build its sought-for development.

Also inclucded on the July 20 agenda will be three amendments offered by speakers Tuesday night, including Mr. Moniz's about bicycles and one offered by former council member and current budget committee member Cecil Leonard.

The second agenda item — that the council never had time to even begin to hear on Tuesday — was a series of proposals to amend the zoning ordinance, including several offered by Carpionato.