The Katz Group has submitted its zoning application to the city for a downtown arena development.

The application seeks permission to rezone the future area near the Baccarat Casino. And in order for the project to proceed, 16 acres of land on the north-central edge of downtown needs to be rezoned.

City general manager of planning and development says the application is the first formal step in the review of the project.

"What we are talking about here is a portion of the downtown and a single project that could have a very significant impact on this city," said Gary Klassen, with the city's planning & development department.

The application also asks that one of the structures be as high as 60 storeys. And in addition to allowing rezoning, the city also needs to determine whether the project is in line with its own downtown development vision.

"We see this as an opportunity for Edmonton to redefine itself," said Katz Group VP Bob Black.

The application does not include any architectural drawings, which would come at a later time when the development permit stage is underway.

Civic officials will spend the next few days taking a closer look at the application. In the near future, a date will be set for a public meeting.

"I'm optimistic that now that this has started, the public will get some sense of what the project will be," said Mayor Stephen Mandel.

Following the public meeting, city council will vote on the application.

In Feb., the Katz Group revealed it wants the city to pay for and own the $400 million downtown arena.

The Katz Group has said it would like to build a new state-of-the-art arena, two office towers south of 104th Ave., a community rink, two hotels, a new casino, new student housing, and new shops.

Plans are also in place to construct what the group calls a "winter garden", which is a climate controlled, public space that bridges 104th Avenue and ties together other elements of the district.

The group told CTV News it hopes to have shovels in the ground by January 2012, and the Oilers playing in the new rink by 2014.

With files from Laura Tupper and Kevin Armstrong