The Maitland City Council voted Monday night to change the zoning for a piece of property surrounded by three lakes from professional office to commercial.  

However, most residents in attendance were there to try to persuade City Council not to allow a big-box store to move into their community, but they failed.

Hundreds of people from eight Maitland communities signed a petition against commercial zoning for the land.

Area residents are concerned that a change in zoning could lay the groundwork to pave paradise and let a big-box store move in.

"We're concerned with the impacts to the lake. We're concerned with noise at night, delivery trucks beeping as they're backing up at two in the morning. We're concerned about light," said resident Jessica Guthrie.

"It's going to be bad. It's going to affect our only entrance; we're going to be detoured. There are a lot of changes I am not happy with," said resident Judy Lee.

The store to come hasn't been decided yet, but it can only be four stories tall and must have a residential look to it.

Council also went ahead and added a deleted item to the usage, where the owner can also build a hotel.