The Toms River Town Council voted down an ordinance that would amend the town’s land use rules.

The vote came after a heated shouting match at Wednesday night’s meeting.

Mayor Dan Rodrick called the council members who voted down the affordable housing settlement “reckless and irresponsible.”

“I believe they did so because they’re in bed with developers who will be able to build whatever they want - wherever they want,” Rodrick wrote in a statement.

If Toms River fails to adopt an approved housing strategy before the state deadline of March 15, the town could lose control of development decisions.