Tauranga City councillors are faced with a fine balancing act between reducing debt and listening to the community after more than 140 people submitted in opposition to selling a 1.56 hectare block of land in the heart of Mount Maunganui.

Public submissions closed on the 384-410 Maunganui Road Strategic Land Review this week ahead of public hearings and a final council decision.

The land at 384-410 Maunganui Road. Photo: Chris Callinan.

Council group communication advisor Rachel Schicker says council has so far received 194submissions from the community on the future of the land.

Of this, 36 support council selling part or all of the land, while 149 are against it.

The remaining nine submissions didn't clearly state a preference for selling or not selling part or all of the land.

The submissions follow a month-long consultation and a pair of open days with elected members and council staff held at Mount Library.

It is council's ambition to further reduce its $380.1 million debt, and selling part or all of the 1.5ha site would support this. According to council the capital land value is $11.8m, while the land value sits at $6.1m.

The key areas of concern expressed in the submissions relate to the retention of the park, the Mount Library and the Mount Plunket Preschool all currently occupying the area, says Rachel.

The site also contains a park, which is used by locals as well as The Little Big Markets, which are held there once a month.

The 1.56 hectare site is zoned commercial under the City Plan and has a current height limit of 12m, which translates to three-to-four storeys

Hearings will be held on the submissions next Monday before councillors consider their decision at a meeting on April 2.