CRANSTON — A Massachusetts developer has withdrawn a controversial plan to build 192 apartments and 6 condominiums on Phenix Avenue.

E.A. Fish Associates, of Braintree, Mass., hand-delivered a letter on Tuesday stating that the company was withdrawing its application without prejudice, meaning E.A. Fish is not forfeiting its rights to develop the site.

The company had preliminary approval to build 150 condominiums but instead submitted plans for 6 condominiums and 192 apartments, said Peter Lapolla, the city’s planning director. At least a quarter of the units would have been subsidized and income-restricted, meeting the state definition of affordable.

Nearby residents opposed the project, saying it would aggravate existing traffic problems and add students to the city’s schools.

The City Council also weighed in, urging the Planning Commission to reject the “fast-track” application E.A. Fish submitted under the state’s Low and Moderate Income Housing Act and force the company to submit a conventional application.

E.A. Fish officials did not return a call yesterday, but Natick Avenue resident James Molloy said residents and city officials met last month with two E.A. Fish representatives.

“They wanted our ideas as to what we thought people in the neighborhood would accept,” Molloy said of the E.A. Fish people.

Residents told E.A. Fish that a light retail development would work better in the area. They also told E.A. Fish that if it wants to build apartments, they should be placed above the retail space or behind it, Molloy said.

redgar@projo.com