PROVIDENCE — The developer looking to build a controversial Federal Hill condominium tower has been given preliminary approval by the City Council to buy the air rights above the site where he hopes to build, but he will still need a zoning variance before the project can go forward.

The developer, Frank Zammiello of Cranston, wants to build a 250-foot tower rising roughly 25 stories, at Federal and Bradford streets on Federal Hill. Neighborhood groups have opposed the tower, saying it is out of scale with the surrounding area. An arch would be carved out of the center of the building, allowing traffic on Federal Street to pass through, and a parking garage would be built partially under Bradford Street.

Zammiello came before the council’s Public Works Committee last night to get the OK to buy the air rights from the city for $178,000. Two weeks ago, the committee had approved his request to buy the rights to build underneath Bradford Street for $469,000.

But the air rights approval was delayed at the Jan. 29 meeting because of the opposition of Councilman Seth Yurdin, who was able to derail the proposal because of the absence of two committee members, Balbina Young and John J. Igliozzi.

The City Plan Commission had deadlocked 3 to 3 on whether to recommend to the council that the city sell the air rights.

“The City Plan Commission didn’t weigh in in support of it. The councilman in the neighborhood did not weigh in in support of it, and there were a several neighborhood groups that called in to say they were not in support of it,” Yurdin said yesterday.

He had also noted at the previous meeting that giving council approval could give the project momentum that could push it through its other needed approvals, before it had been fully vetted by the public.

Last night, Young and Igliozzi were in attendance, and the measure passed 4 to 1, with Yurdin again opposed. It will now go before the full council for review. The project still requires a zoning variance to allow Zammiello to build up to 250 feet, a point that Councilman Michael A. Solomon stressed when noting why he gave his approval.

“Some people thought that we’re making zoning changes. We’re just passing the air rights. Zoning still remains,” Solomon said, adding that much could change in the proposal between now and then.

Several neighborhood groups have argued against the project, led by the West Broadway Neighborhood Association.

Last night, the West Broadway group testified against the project, and the Summit, Fox Point and College Hill neighborhood groups also indicated their opposition. The groups have argued that the council should not approve the plan, as it may not be in keeping with the vision of the city outlined in the new Comprehensive Plan.

“Approval of this unprecedented air rights application — apparently even before city planning officials and the public have reviewed the underlying development objectives and potentially severe impacts, especially as those relate to the unfinished Comprehensive Plan — simply would not make sense,” wrote Will Touret of the College Hill Neighborhood Association in a letter to the committee.

It “would also further the unfortunate and longstanding perception that such major development decisions in Providence are neither transparent, nor subject to sufficient public involvement and review,” he wrote.

Planning Director Thomas E. Deller, however, testified before the committee yesterday that he supports the project.

Zammiello has developed Bridlewood Estates in Lincoln and a 438-unit condo project in Highland Beach, Fla. He also owns Northstar Aviation in Warwick.

The condominiums would be marketed to sell from $400,000 to just over $2 million. The project would take two years to complete from the time final approvals were granted.