The area around Friendly Avenue is already seeing more commercial development with a new Whole Foods store and other businesses. But residents say enough is enough because the area is zoned as primarily residential.

A few weeks ago, a group of neighbors called the Friendly Coalition held a public meeting at a local church to gather support. Mark O'Connor is co-chairman of the organization, and says like many residents, he's not opposed to the project – he just doesn't want it in his community.

"It's commercial encroachment in an area that is currently zoned as residential. That is going to severely impact the quality of life for the surrounding neighborhoods: the traffic, the safety and crime factor that you have with additional commercial development, the loss of some beautiful trees along that parcel of property," said O'Connor.

O'Connor said there are other vacant sites in the city that should be considered for retail development. He says past city councils assured residents that there wouldn't be more commercial development west of Hobbs Road.

The Friendly Coalition is planning a neighborhood rally Saturday afternoon.

"We are starting a yard sale campaign. We have ordered over 500 signs and we are asking people to come out and to pick up their signs and start displaying them Sunday morning. We have asked all of our supporters to begin sending their e-mails to all the city council members and to the zoning commissioners that will be hearing the proposed zoning application," said O'Connor.