The development of a 75-acre plot of land in St. James is one step closer to happening following a vote by the Smithtown planning board.

The planning board voted unanimously Wednesday evening to approve a subdivision of the Gyrodyne property.

Residents, however, are sending out flyers to tell others in the community to oppose the development plan.

"I think it was the wrong decision," says Joseph Bullhofer. "I think they should have listened more to the public."

He was one of around a dozen people who spoke out against the plan during the virtual meeting Wednesday.

Opponents of the plan argue traffic on 25-A would increase exponentially.

There is also concern about building on one of the last untouched green spaces in St. James.

"Overwhelmingly, the residents say this proposed development is not right for our community," says Village of Head of the Harbor Mayor Douglas Dahlgard. "This is not a commercial area."

Timothy Shea, the attorney representing Gyrodyne, says the development would bring dozens of acres of open space with limited impact to the surrounding area.

"The first 200 feet will be a vegetative buffer and will remain as such," Shea says. "There will be a substantial buffer in the area, which will limit anybody seeing anything that's going on from the outside."

Residents, however, say they are ready to take the town of Smithtown to court.

A spokesperson for the town tells News 12 that the planning board "cannot reject an application for subdivision based on public opposition.''