REXBURG, Idaho -- Rexburg's student population is growing, but some of its citizens are worried it's growing in the wrong direction.

Construction seems to be everywhere in Rexburg.

Brigham Young University-Idaho has nearly 1,000 more students this fall than last year, and it plans to continue growing.

With the increased enrollment comes more housing, and some folks who live near the university feel student housing is creeping closer.

"It will also lower the value of my home because there will not be a lot of people who want to live close to that many young women and their boyfriends when they come to visit,” Corrine Barker said.

Just last week, the Rexburg City Council approved a zone change for a house lot on the corner of 2nd East and 3rd South.

By making the change, the new owners will be able to expand the student women's housing complex, Kensington Apartments.

Neighbors like Barker aren't happy.

"We are unhappy about the growth coming into the neighborhood,” Barker said. “We wanted to keep our neighborhood small, where we care about one another, not all rental units."

Neighbors said their greatest fear is that student housing will creep closer and closer to their homes as zoning laws continue to change, but city officials say the zoning laws will not allow that.

"I think that is a valid concern,” City Clerk Blair Kay said. “As people sell their properties and move on, the new buyers may desire to improve the property or join another lot."

While the new complex will not have access to 3rd South, Barker doesn't think that will stop the tenants' friends from parking on her street.

"We like the college; we are so happy it's here,” Barker said. “We like the growth, but we want the college to prepare and have parking."

Some neighbors said the growth is inevitable and agree with the city's decision, but said for political reasons they did not want to talk on camera.

But Kay said neighbors have no need to worry about more zoning changes.

"The city has no plans to allow that to happen,” Kay said. “They want to protect the neighborhoods from increased density."

The manager of Kensington Apartments said the owners do not wish to comment about the neighbors' concerns, but did say they plan to build next spring.