A plan to create new holiday lodges on Millport is set to be scrutinised by councillors.
It comes after concerns were raised over the development's proximity to the historic Cathedral of the Isles.
Councillor Todd Ferguson, who lives on Cumbrae, also claimed Millport suffers from over-provision of tourist accommodation.
He was one of three members of the North Ayrshire authority who asked to call in the plan for the College Street site, rather than have it assessed by planning officers under delegated powers.
The bid — to build five holiday lodges and reception building, as well as the creation of access and car parking — was lodged in June, by architects Stewart Associates, for Alt Stays Scotland.
It has attracted objections, including on the grounds that it deviates from the local plan.
Councillor Ferguson, who represents Dalry and West Kilbride, told a meeting of North Ayrshire Council's planning committee on Wednesday: "Just in terms of outlining the grounds for the call in on this application, it is an application which will affect the setting of the Cathedral of the Isles in Millport, which is a Category A-listed building and its' environs.
"Number two; there are a large number of local objections to the planning application itself, which I believe should be heard and three; there is over-provision of this type of tourist accommodation on Millport already.
"Just further to that as well, I guess for the benefit of members maybe not familiar with Cumbrae itself, the Cathedral of the Isles is, as I say, a Category A-listed building and on our own website identifying The Coig as the tourist destination, it talks about how the cathedral is surrounded by eight acres of beautifully-landscaped grounds, the cathedral has access to managed woodland, lawns, orchard and even a labyrinth.
"On the basis of that and the sensitivities around the church site — which is actually a functioning church — and the application to the north, I think it's in the committee's best interests that they look at this and make decisions based on those representations from the applicant and also from the objectors as well."
His stance was challenged by Kilwinning councillor Donald Reid who fired back: "Can I ask why there's been no local representation from local members to the planning committee in terms of this application and why it's all councillors outwith the ward area?
"Clearly it might have a bit more weight if any ward members had supported the call-in but the fact it's all external does cause me the usual concern that it's local interests or viewpoints and not necessarily the planning committee should therefore allow the planners to do their job first."
Legal officer Aileen Craig confirmed that protocol demands that three councillors must subscribe to call-in a planning application but there is no requirement for any of them to represent the affected ward.
But Labour councillor Reid questioned whether if Councillor Ferguson was an objector to the development, he hadn't tabled an objection through planning channels, rather than "coming in as a councillor to go through this process".
Conservative councillor Ferguson said: "In terms of calling in, I've obviously gone to my own colleagues to call this in, as most of you know, I am a local resident on the island.
"There are obviously concerns, I guess, around the sensitivities I've mentioned already about the site, as a tourist destination, it's surrounded by lovely lands in itself and on the basis of the application as it's been put forward.
"I mean, this will greatly alter the environment surrounding the Cathedral of the Isles and I certainly think that it's something that the committee should be looking at, rather than delegated powers and I guess, as I've mentioned already Councillor Reid, is the fact that there is quite a significant local objection to the development — not to say that there is not those also in support because there is — but I just think that on the basis of the application itself, it really needs the sensitive approach.
"Not to say the planners wouldn't do their job appropriately but I think the committee needs to have visibility of this as well just due to the nature of the site."
He added: "I am not an official objector to the application, just to have that on record."
Councillor Robert Foster tabled a motion to bring the application "to planning and let's see it", to "determine it from there".
His move was supported by Saltcoats Independent, Councillor Ronnie McNicol.
An amendment from Councillor Reid, who said: "I would move against and allow officers to do their job", did not find support.
Chair, Councillor Tom Marshall, confirmed the application now faces being "called in to a subsequent meeting of the planning committee".
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