JERSEY CITY -- A controversial measure creating a historic district on the West Side was approved unanimously by the planning board last night after a nearly four-hour public hearing.

Twenty six speakers addressed the planning board last night on the proposed historic district, which needs approval from the City Council and Mayor Steve Fulop before it becomes official. The district would affect over 600 property owners.

The planning board approved the measure 5-0.

Advocates for the move say the district, which would be the first new one in Jersey City in decades, and the first outside of the Downtown, would help dissuade developers from building high-rises on the West Side and would protect the character of the neighborhoods on that side of the city.

Opponents fear the change would push out older, less affluent residents. Owners of homes in historic neighborhoods have to apply to the city and pay fees to make many changes to the exterior of their homes and, in some cases, the interior.

The City Council will likely take up the measure in April.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.