Lawrence city commissioners agreed Tuesday to defer a vote for rezoning at Sixth Street and Folks Road, despite fierce opposition from neighbors who wanted immediate action.

“I think this needs some time,” Mayor Sue Hack said. “We’ve been able to accomplish some good things by talking.”

The neighbors oppose Doug Compton’s request to rezone agricultural land at the intersection to make room for apartments; surrounding residents say they want the land preserved for single-family housing.

At their June 11 meeting, commissioners delayed consideration of the rezoning to Tuesday’s meeting, saying they anticipated approving longer deferral.

But opponents of the proposed development were emboldened Tuesday by a “protest petition” signed by nearly half the nearby property owners more than enough to trigger a city ordinance requiring a 4-1 “supermajority” of the commission.

Neighborhood activists thus opposed the deferral, believing Compton’s request didn’t have enough commission support for approval now or later.

“I don’t see a four-vote majority in favor of this recommendation whenever we vote on it,” Commissioner David Dunfield said. “I think we should clear the table and move on.”

Compton said he could make the project more palatable if given until August to refine his plans.

“We are anticipating some single-family in our new mixture,” Compton told the commission. “It’s going to take a long time more to get the details worked out.”

Neighbors doubted he could come up with anything acceptable.

“We are at complete odds,” said resident Loren McVey.

Hack joined commissioners Marty Kennedy and Jim Henry in approving deferral until Aug. 27. Commissioner Mike Rundle and Dunfield voted against.