The first rezoning under the mayor's affordable housing plan took a big step forward Wednesday, as the rezoning of East New York was approved by the City Planning Commission, but there may be some hurdles down the road. NY1's Courtney Gross filed the following report.

The mayor's plan to change the face of East New York was greeted at the City Planning Commission by chants of "East New York! Votes No!" and "Our neighborhood! Our plan!"

The protest went on for several minutes. The protesters were eventually escorted out by police.

The commission then went on to immediately approve the first rezoning of Mayor Bill de Blasio's affordable housing plan. It's a complete overhaul of East New York to spur mixed-use development, about 6,300 new units of housing, half of which the city says will be affordable.

The plan will allow for larger mixed use buildings along main arteries. It includes a facelift for Atlantic Avenue with safer crosswalks and a planted median.

At least 1,200 units of affordable housing for low-income residents will be built within the first two years. The rest of the affordable housing will be slated for people with a range of incomes up to about $70,000 for a family of three.

Those income levels are what these residents have an issue with.

"This rezoning comes like a tsunami of gentrification," said one resident. "It will push us out."

"We can and will reach a much broader level of affordability in a neighborhood like East New York," said Purnima Kapur, executive director of the City Planning Commission.

Right now, you can rent a two-bedroom arpartment in East New York for about $1,500 a month. City Hall says the affordable housing it hopes to create under this zoning proposal would be cheaper than that.

At least one resident welcomes that.

"It should be done because a lot of places, they are abandoned. It don't look good," the resident said.

This is not the final say on what happens in East New York. The plan is now heading to the City Council, where the local councilman is also talking about affordability.

"Until the adminsitration delivers on what my community has been asking for and what I am looking for, we cannot vote on this plan through the Council,"

It has about 50 days to do just that.