A plan to build an apartment complex in East Islip is not sitting well with residents who say the project would destroy the character of their community.

Bayview Avenue is a residential street made up of historic homes. Now a developer wants to tear down two homes and use the land to build a multifamily structure.

According to an Islip town spokesperson, the development firm Greenview Properties filed for a zoning change in order to move the project forward. The application calls for a 29-unit senior citizen complex with 59 parking spaces.

Residents say the deal is inappropriate because the listing agent on one of the homes is Town Councilwoman Trish Bergin. They are also concerned about traffic.

"How can we appeal to our town council people if they are the people who stand to profit from this development?" says resident Allison Abel. "We want to let them know how we feel about this, and yet this is the real estate agent that is profiting from this."

Councilwoman Bergin, who was once a News 12 reporter, would not talk on camera. Bergin did tell News 12 over the phone that she would recuse herself from any vote regarding this project.