The owners of Northgate Mall said they have no comment on a charge that they are behind a "smear campaign" against the developers of the planned $100 million "Chattanooga Village" in Hixson.
A Chattanooga Free Press editorial said CBL & Associates had hired the Waterhouse public relations firm to battle the project because it did not want competition for Northgate.
Katie Reinsmidt of CBL said, "We do not have any comments to share."
The editorial says the Waterhouse firm "dreamed up an environmental crisis" to try to get rezoning for the project denied.
It says the PR firm is also working with the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy in battling the project.
Attorney Joe Conner has made several appearances in opposition to the rezoning, saying his client is the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy.
The City Council on Tuesday night delayed action for two weeks on the rezoning.