Peters council members last night voted to approve a developer's plan to scale down the size of townhouses in a new residential development after several of the homes didn't sell.

After a public hearing Tuesday night to consider the request of Martik Properties to increase the number of units in its Venetia Pointe townhouse development, council voted 5-1 in favor of allowing the changes.

The development is located on 6 acres along Venetia Road where council initially had approved the construction of 24 townhomes in 2006.

But, when Martik Properties built four of the new townhouses, which were anticipated to sell for about $300,000, none of them sold.

The story has been the same for other developers in the area and revenues associated with real estate purchases and development have nosedived as much as 30 percent since January. Council will hold a special budget workshop Monday to discuss ways to cut expenses.

In its request for conditional-use approval, Martik Properties said it wanted to slash the size of new townhouses from 3,150 square feet per unit to about 2,200 square feet, and lower the price to about $240,000.

George Paxton, whose home is near the Venetia Pointe development, said his property has suffered severe wind damage since trees were cut down for the development. He told council issues over a new driveway for him have yet to be worked out.

"Something's got to be done," he said, referring to the lack of construction at the site for two years.

Councilwoman Monica Merrell proposed waiting until the next council meeting to vote on the issue so more information could be gathered, but other members said they saw no reason to delay the vote.

Ms. Merrell voted against granting approval. Robert Atkison David Ball, Robert Lewis, Michael McCaig and Frank Arcuri voted in favor. Councilman James Berquist was absent.