The master developer of Somerville’s Union Square took a step back from a fast-track approach to building housing in the first phase of the redevelopment.

Union Square Assoc. (US2) said it will submit plans for the entire seven-block area spanning 117 acres, rather than moving forward first on the two parcels totaling 8.4 acres next to the future MBTA Green Line station. US2 had proposed building 500 apartments on the two parcels with a target completion date of 2017, designed to coincide with the arrival of the Green Line Extension.

In a press release issued Wednesday, US2 said it will follow a “comprehensive planning” process for all seven blocks in the Union Square and Boynton Yards neighborhood.

Some residents and members of the Union Square Citizen Advisory Committee had objected to starting the redevelopment with housing, arguing that it clashed with the city’s goal of creating 4,300 new jobs in the area. The redevelopment plans called for up to 805,000 square feet of office space, but US2 executives had argued that more housing was needed first to create a “sense of place” for commercial tenants.

“Since day one, US2 has expressed our commitment to working collaboratively with the Union Square community to carry out the goals set forth in (the city’s master planning document) SomerVision for the future of this special neighborhood,” Greg Karczewski, president of US2, said in a statement.

Residents will have the chance to comment on the process at ongoing meetings hosted by the city’s Somerville by Design group.

US2, a partnership of Chicago-based Magellan Development and Mesirow Financial, recently leased 2,500 square feet at 31 Union Square. The building will house its local headquarters and coworking space for local start-ups.