Several dozen protesters were outside Islip Town Hall Tuesday afternoon to speak out against a massive new apartment complex planned for the former Island Hills golf course.

A plan to redevelop the former golf course on Lakeland Avenue calls for 1,300 apartments in the middle of a neighborhood made up of single-family homes.

Developer Reichler Equity Partners would need a zoning change to get the project built. Right now, the area is only zoned for single-family homes on 1-acre plots.

Kevin Shapiro, who lives about a mile away in Bohemia, says the project would impact quality of life and the environment.

“Nitrogen pollution in the bay will go up. Additional problems with our gentle, single-source aquifer will be exacerbated,” he says.

The former country club closed due to financial problems, and the land will likely see new development. Residents say they would like to see anything else built on the land -- but not apartments.

“Do what it's zoned for,” Shapiro says. “Allow 1-acre homes…that would fit in with the character of the community.”

It's not clear when the issue will go before the Town Zoning Board of Appeals.

Developers said in a statement that they plan to work with residents as the planning process continues.