One building, multiple restaurants -- that's what Ed Dombrowski and Omar Hamdan envision for the long-vacant gas station property on the corner of Ann Arbor Trail and Main Street.

The two have submitted a proposal to the City of Plymouth to construct a two-and-a-half story building on the corner next to the Box Bar that would hold up to seven restaurants.

At a Planning Commission meeting in October, an architect hired by Dombrowski and Hamdan made a presentation during which he explained that the bottom floor, which would be partially submerged and patrons would step down into, would be a food court of sorts, holding up to four different restaurants.

The second floor would hold two larger restaurants or retail shops and the top floor would host a bar or restaurant with a roof-top balcony.

The Historic District Commission, whose job it is to make sure new buildings fit in with the current character of the downtown area, voted down an application at a meeting on Wednesday evening.

Members want the architect to submit a more detailed list of materials, but said they liked the look of the building and asked the team to come back again in December during a special meeting whose date has not yet been determined.

"I think the design is beautiful," Historic District Commission member Colleen Polin said on Wednesday. "Now we just need to have the details to make an informed decision."

Commission member Joseph Phillips, who is also a member of the Planning Commission, said they want to make sure they know exactly what the building will look like and what materials will be used before approving the application.

"We've had projects in the past tell us it would be one way, and then the building goes up and it looks like something totally different," Phillips said. "We just want the documentation."

A few public attendees at Wednesday's meeting spoke out against the project.

Bob Bake, a longtime Plymouth resident, realtor and commercial property owner, said he has concerns about the building and potential business.

"I think the architecture is gimicky, the building is too large," he said. "Plymouth deserves the very best."

To support his point, he referenced the Mayflower Building, which is across the street from the site in question and holds Panera and Starbucks.

"The Mayflower Building has never been more than half full," he said. "I just don't think Western Wayne County can absorb another restaurant."

Dan Smith, a Northville resident and former Plymouth resident who owns the Citizens Bank building across Main Street from City Hall, said he's happy the Historic District Commission is requiring more detail about the project.

"It's a great corner and we owe it to the community to drag our feet on this," Smith said. "I feel like we're being pushed a little to make this happen faster, but we're going to have to look at this for the next 100 years."

After the meeting, Hamdan said Bake and Smith have the wrong idea about the building and their intentions.

"We're doing something good here," he said. 'We want to contribute good things to the downtown area."

The property owners will make their next presentation at the Planning Commission meeting on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.