"Chinatown? Not for sale. Lower East Side? Not for sale," chanted the crowds.

The rezoning proposal before the CPC covers 111 blocks, running north of Delancey Street to East 13th Street and east of the Bowery to Avenue D.

For the first time, height limits would be put on buildings within the zone, which has recently become home to several luxury high-rises.

But residents outside that zone fear that plan would leave their neighborhood defenseless, with many at risk of losing their homes to over-development.

"They're pushing for it, our rezoning plan for Chinatown and the Lower East Side,” said Jei Fong of the Coalition to Protect Chinatown and Lower East Side, “that's basically going to cut out and up-zone all the areas of people of color and create massive displacement."

Protestors say they have been left out of the planning process, but the commission insists there were many opportunities for people to speak up.

"We've had meetings that were open and publicized and advertised to everybody. Anyone was welcome to come,” said City Planning Commissioner Edith Hsu-Chen. “So frankly, those allegations that we've had closed meetings are absolutely baseless."

But the residents who went from protesting outside in Washington Square Park to yelling at the commissioners in the meeting described their review process as a charade.

“We know that you have no intention of listening to us,” said Josephine Lee of the Coalition to Protect Chinatown. “We know that you will pass this plan regardless of how many people it displaces, regardless of how many people speak out against it.”

"Proponents ask us to wait our turn, that we will get our protection under a new plan one to three years from now,” said Malcolm Lam of Coalition to Protect Chinatown. “I say that you [commissioners] should wait. You should wait to ensure equality and fair representation for all people."

Some neighborhood residents favor the proposal, flaws and all.

"Do we wait for the perfect plan? Do we wait until we get absolutely everything? Or do we take some opportunities right now to serve our community?" said Damaris Reyes of Good Old Lower East Side.

The CPC has 60 days to approve or modify the rezoning plan, before it goes to the City Council for a review and another public hearing before a final vote.