A rendering of the first phase of the Lincoln Yards plan that was presented to the Chicago Plan Commission on April 15. [Department of Planning and Development]

A developer’s about-face in its first stage of building the Lincoln Yards megadevelopment illustrates how much latitude the firm has been given to reshape its massive plans — shutting out public input in the process, some neighbors argue.

Sterling Bay presented the first construction planned in its sprawling Lincoln Yards campus to the Chicago Plan Commission during a public hearing on April 15.