Kirkland has abandoned a plan to rezone the defunct Merck-Frosst laboratory into a residential development.

Developer Broccolini came up with the proposal last year to transform the former research lab into townhouses and condominium towers.

However people who already live in the area were fiercely opposed to the idea of having new neighbours, with Cherine Cheftechi saying it would dramatically alter the character of the neighbourhood.

She was one of the leaders of the drive to collect community opposition to the proposal.

"There were a lot of people walking out on the first night saying 'it's a done deal, it's a done deal, we can't do anything.' And I said 'hang on a second, there's nothing called a done deal, so let's get involved in the process. It's a done deal if you don't get involved,'" she said.

In early December the city council voted five to two to approve a change in zoning from industrial to residential.

Cheftechi helped circulate a petition to gather signatures of those opposed to the development, and managed to convince more than 300 people to sign a registry.

That was twice the number needed to force the city to hold a referendum on the project, and in the face of the opposition, the city backed down.

"The municipal council considers it preferable to terminate the adoption process by withdrawing the bylaw at hand," said Mayor Michel Gibson.

Councillor Domenico Zito was in favour of the development, saying it would bring more families, and more tax revenue, to the suburban city.

"I thought it was a good project for Kirkland as a whole but then I received many complaints from residents and I saw the majority of residents in my area, my district, of those who contacted me were against the project. So as their representative I'm here to represent what they want," said Zito.

With more than 300 people signing a registry opposed to the process, Gibson said holding a referendum would have been pointless.

Broccolini Group is not ready to give up just yet.

It is planning to come up with a new proposal to place housing on the 20 hectare property.