After months of campaigning, a heated debate over a state-mandated plan that would have made it easier to build multifamily housing in parts of Needham came to a head Tuesday when voters soundly rejected the new zoning.

people voted down the zoning changes, while 4,914 people voted to keep in compliance with the law, according to the town clerk.

Voters in Needham have overturned a zoning plan that would have allowed multifamily housing, going above and beyond the requirements under the state's MBTA Communities Act.