A proposed student housing by-law is back, and residents are not happy about it.

The proposed change to the zoning by-laws, set to appear on the June Town Meeting agenda, would allow developers to create student housing communities within two miles college campuses, in areas currently zoned for single-family residences. That includes areas surrounding the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s main campus on Old Westport Road and the School of Law on Faunce Corner Road.

Developers need to secure a special permit from the board before construction begins, and the chosen site must have at least 50 acres of land with 15 buildable acres. The by-law would limit density to seven bedrooms per acre and a maximum building height of 35 feet.

The standing-room only crowd included many residents of Old Westport Road and streets near the university. While the article itself does not authorize the construction of any particular project, Attorney Tom Killoran said the first special permit application will likely seek to build a community at an inactive quarry on Old Westport Road.

Resident Jim Costa had concerns with crime. He recited stats from UMass Dartmouth’s campus crime report, adding that the university has full-time police officers, an on-call nurse, and an entire department with staff to support student residents that private developments will not be required to have.

Lisa Santos, whose property directly abuts the university’s main campus, said she frequently has problems with students trespassing on her property and constantly hears noise from loud parties. Santos worries that student housing could cause those issues to spread.

“Don’t do this to other people in town. It’s not fair to anyone,” Santos said.

Town Attorney Anthony Savastano recommended the board not vote favorably toward the proposal, and shared a written report to back his concerns. The board voted to continue the public hearing until May 1, giving the article’s petitioners time to respond to Savastano’s concerns, and procure an official statement from the university on if there is a need for student housing.

Planning Board members also voiced concerns with a Select Board-sponsored article allowing multi-family developments in the town’s general business-zoned district along Route 6. Developers would still need to get a special permit before construction on any development can begin.

While member Lori-Ann Miller was in favor of the proposal – with some adjustments – citing the need for rental units and a bleak outlook in the retail industry which takes up much of Dartmouth’s Route 6-area general business zoning, other members raised concerns with the proposal’s broadly defined area.

The Planning Board recommended sending the article back with changes including implementing a three-story limit on buildings, a 40-foot setback, and tweaks to sections relating to guest parking. The hearing will also be continued to May 1.

The board did recommend approval of several other articles at Town Meeting, including an 18-month temporary moratorium on non-medical marijuana facilities, reclassification of several properties in the Bliss Corner area to commercial, and making changes to zoning bylaws relating to tree and sign locations and lighting poles.

The articles will appear at the June Town Meeting, and require voter approval at that meeting to go forward.