MADISON, Wis. -- The head of the Edgewater Hotel development plan said Tuesday that he's confident the $93 million project will continue to have a signature pier despite concerns raised by some state Department of Natural Resource officials.

SLIDESHOW: See Images Of Edgewater Hotel Plan

Robert Dunn, president of Hammes Co., the project's developer, said that he acknowledges the DNR has the final say on size and configuration of the pier. However, Dunn said worrying about the pier is putting "the cart before the horse" at this stage. He wants to get the project approved by the city first.

Officials with the $93 million Lake Mendota hotel redevelopment said that they would like to bring back a 107-foot historic Edgewater pier that existed years ago. They said with the pier, the boating community would have a portal to the city. The plan would be one of two pier structures that are part of the project to expand the hotel located near the city's downtown.

DNR officials said that there might be problems with usage and size problems with the plan. They said that dining on a lake platform pier would essentially privatize a public lake. They added that the long pier might present a boating hazard.

"If it sticks out beyond the other piers in the area, there is a chance it could be a navigational hazard, or just disrupt other people using the lake in that area," said Sue Josheff, the basin supervisor for the DNR's water program management.

DNR officials said that they met with the developer in September, but haven't seen pier details because it hasn't applied for the two permits necessary for construction of the piers.

Dunn said he thinks it's too early for worries about the pier structures.

"We're not comfortable with going forward with trying to get pier issues resolved until we knew whether we have a project or not," Dunn said.

"We want to have boats come in and dock and come onto the property. We're more interested in that than we are in tables and chair on piers down on the waterfront," he said.

In fact, Dunn said that if the dining pier went away, it would have no impact on the business plan at all. Right now, Dunn said that he's focusing on getting city approval and $16 million in city TIF money.

The Common Council president said that he's trying to schedule a special session for March 23to take the final Edgewater votes.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.