The proposal for an arena in Ronkonkoma has been scaled back.

For more than a year, many Ronkonkoma residents have made it clear that original plans for a 17,500-seat sports arena was not welcomed in their neighborhood. Traffic, overcrowding and overdevelopment were among their concerns.

Now there's word from the developer about plans to scale down the project by more than half. Jones Lang LaSalle says the plan is to build a 7,500-seat arena on land between MacArthur Airport and the Ronkonkoma LIRR station.

The developer says they also aim to attract a minor league hockey team.

The billion-dollar development would include offices, a convention center and medical facilities.

But residents who spoke with News 12 say smaller isn't better. Many stand firm in their fierce opposition to the project.

Suffolk Legislator Robert Trotta says a convention center, not a hockey arena, would be fit for the area.

A Suffolk spokesperson says the county will review the developer's scaled-down plans once they are formally submitted.