FREMONT — For the second time in about 30 years, a proposal to build more homes near the scenic Vineyard Hills neighborhood not too far from MC Hammer’s old abode has been shot down.

The Fremont City Council on Tuesday rejected a plan by resident Sarbjit Hundal, a local eye doctor, to subdivide his nearly 8-acre parcel at 45089 Cougar Circle, east of Mission Boulevard, into lots where three new homes could be developed.

Among those who attended the meeting to oppose the project was resident Ranjit Advani, who along with other neighbors had protested the first multi-house development proposed there three decades ago. He registered his opposition to the latest iteration by displaying one of the T-shirts he and others made back then that read “Can’t Touch This,” a reference to MC Hammer’s hit song, “U Can’t Touch This.”

He and other neighbors said new homes on the parcel would block or obstruct their views of the hills and violate a 1985 planning agreement that dictates only one home is allowed on his lot as well as other custom lots in the area.

Councilman Vinnie Bacon said residents there have a right to expect their neighborhood to remain mostly unchanged, and if Hundal was allowed to build more homes it could become “a slippery slope,” setting a precedent that other landowners in the hills might try to seize.

Praveen Bhatia, who lives on Boar Circle directly behind Hundal’s home, said when he and his family bought the home 28 years ago, he “had to pay a premium” because the “views were captivating,” even though the floor plan was similar to about 200 other homes in the subdivision.

“We have enjoyed excellent views of early morning sunrises, chirping birds in the backyard, full moon rising behind the Mission Peak hills, snow-capped peak views every few years,” he told the council.

“I paid extra for that,” Bhatia said in an interview after the meeting. “I would like to not have someone just willy nilly, just take it away from me,” he said.

Hundal, in a brief interview after the council’s decision, said “the mob won,” referring to the group of neighbors who banded together to fight his plan. The planning commission rejected the plan in June and he appealed the decision to the council.

City staff reports say a “planned district” agreement in 1985 allowed the development of 185 townhouses and 214 single-family lots in a 141-acre area, with the townhouses to go up closer to Mission Boulevard and larger single-family lots farther up the base of the hills.

Part of the agreement included an “open space easement” on five custom home lots, including Hundal’s, allowing only one house to be built on each.

Chris Cavette, who doesn’t live nearby but said he supports residents hoping to preserve their views, told the council the planned district agreement clearly trumps Hundal’s proposal.

“Once a planned district is approved, that’s it, you can’t change it, it’s there forever,” he said.

“A deal’s a deal,” he added.

Roger Shanks, a consultant for Hundal, told the council there would still be plenty of open space left after the new homes are built, and that increasing the developed space there could serve as a fire break in the grassy hillsides, among other benefits.

But the council didn’t find those arguments compelling in light of the planning agreement as well as Measure A, a 1981 initiative approved by voters to protect open space in the Fremont hills.

“The hillside is one of those special places where we have to preserve,” Councilman Raj Salwan said.

“If we were to allow this one parcel to expand, or build more homes, then there will be many others that will come forward as well,” he added.

“Those are some of the scenic places we need to preserve.”