RALEIGH, N.C. — Homeowners in one of Raleigh's oldest and trendiest neighborhoods are squaring off with the City Council over a 21-townhome project that the City Council is expected to approve.

A developer wants to put Bicket Place on two acres considered the back yards of homeowners in Raleigh's Five Points area. The project has been a hot topic with the planning commission for about a year.

Planning commission Vice-Chairman Ed Brandel, who approves of the project, said it will help to prevent sprawl.

"In this case, the neighbors and developers both have made a lot of concessions in getting it where it is today," he said. "As we all know, sprawl is overtaking us, so we need to grow more up rather than out, and this is just one step in that direction."

"What is projected are three-story townhouses, 21 of them, and they don't have architectural details that our houses have, not to mention, the height in and of itself and the density are just too much for this neighborhood," Kim Peacock of the Five Points Citizens Assocation said.

The Raleigh City Council will consider approving the project at its meeting on Tuesday. The Five Points Citizens Association is trying to persuade the council to vote no.

Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker visited the proposed neighborhood site on Saturday. Several of the council members were also invited to visit the area before the vote.