Saying they were disgusted by new housing developments being "jammed together" and spoiling the rolling vistas and rural flavor of Peters, council members said they will revisit zoning ordinances.

The move came Monday night, an hour after several council members blasted a representative from Ryan Homes, who came before council to ask for a reduction in front setbacks, from 30 feet to 25 feet and in side yards from 10 feet to 7 1/2 feet, for a major new housing development at Trax Farms off Sugar Camp Road.

Ryan Homes land manager John Solo told council members that scrunching 80 homes closer together on the 71-acre tract would allow the company to offer potential home buyers a third garage and other options that would increase home size and buyer appeal.

"There's another option," said council President David Ball, "not to have quite as many lots."

Mr. Solo said market conditions have deteriorated since 2007, when Ryan Homes and developer Wadwell Group submitted a preliminary plan calling for larger lot sizes.

Because the development is taking place on a working farm, and because the developer has agreed to set aside 39 acres as permanent open space that Trax will continue to farm, it qualifies for consideration as a cluster development, designed to help preserve agricultural parcels.

Still, council members had trouble seeing the potential benefit from squeezing so many homes together.

"What you're doing is trying to put a bigger house on a smaller parcel," said Councilman Robert Lewis.

Council approved the request, with Mr. Lewis dissenting, and members Frank Arcuri, Gary Stiegel Jr., Robert Atkison and Monica Merrell voting in favor. Mr. Ball abstained from voting, saying he could not approve of either position. Councilman James Berquist was absent.

Members agreed to begin reviewing zoning policy to increase the size of mandatory setbacks.

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