A rowdy crowd of voters protested the White Plains Common Council Monday evening as residents sought to stop a controversial private school proposal.

But many in attendance walked out in protest after council members voted 5-2 to allow the French-American School of New York to build its proposed facility at the former Ridgeway Country Club.

The unpopular plan has faced seven years of community opposition and court battles. 

"It's not a little school," explains resident Ann Bobroff-Hajal. "It's a gigantic complex."

Many neighbors say the project is unrealistic, unsafe and would create a traffic nightmare.

Geoff Thompson, a spokesperson for the school, says officials have undergone extensive safety and environmental studies. He argues the school is not too big for the site.

"We're going to proceed with the project as quickly as possible," he says.