The controversial plan to transform a Queens community cleared a hurdle last night.

Despite much opposition, Community Board 7 voted 21 to 15 in favor of a plan to turn Willets Point into a residential and commercial destination.

The vote was purely advisory. The public review process now moves to Queens Borough President Helen Marshall.

"We're delighted that Community Board 7 took a bold step to help reshape and revitalize an important section of Queens," said Marshall this morning in a statement. "It's our hope that with relocation assistance, worker training, and outreach the issues of the current businesses will be addressed so that a new convention center, much needed affordable housing, and environmentally green community can be built."

The 60-acre site across from Shea Stadium and the new Citi Field is filled with auto shops and industrial buildings. The plan calls for a mix of businesses and apartment buildings, and possibly a convention center.

Supporters, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, applauded the vote last night, saying the development will bring 5,300 permanent jobs and 18,000 construction jobs, along with commerce, to turn the area into a vibrant community.

"It will change that part of Queens for the better dramatically," said Bloomberg. "Does it require a hand full of people to get rid of their chop shops, yes. But that's society."

"As you can see, they don't take care of the streets. Transforming it wouldn't be a bad idea," agreed local businessman Charlie Riveira.

However, 260 businesses will be displaced. Workers who protested before last night's vote said the city has ignored them for generations, and is forcing them out without a coherent plan.

"There are owners who have been here 30, 40, 60 years," said opponent City Councilman John Liu. "Unfortunately, the city has not contacted them and has gone to eminent domain as a first mode of choice as opposed to a last resort."

"They've done nothing in this area. You've obviously seen the streets and you've obviously seen the potholes and the lack of services in this area," said business owner Howard Feinstein, an opponent to the plan. "It's an amazing thing that all the sudden the city wakes up and says, 'you know what we have the better plan for it than the actual owners of the property; let's develop it.'"

"How are we going to fight? There are too many rich people," said Roberto Bolanoz of Roberto's Auto Repair. "We work here just to survive."

Feinstein says he's not going anywhere until he is told to, although several other businesses have already accepted a city offer to buy land elsewhere and help them move to a new location.

The plan still has to be approved by the Queens borough president, the City Planning Commission and the City Council.