The application for a 16 multi -dwelling housing development at the entrance of Bowral on Clarke and Cliff Streets was refused at last week's Ordinary Meeting of Council.

The development had previously been deferred twice last year as councillors asked the applicant to address density and drainage concerns on the site.

Councillor Ian Scandrett successfully moved the motion to refuse the application because of the amenity, density, style, non-compliance, drainage, bulk and design concerns.

Cr Scandrett said it wasn't consistent with "good design" objectives and was not the type of development council would welcome.

"This is about the amenity, the quality of life, why we live here, why people choose to live here and to pay to live here," he said.

"People aren't coming here to get city living.

"In my opinion, it's a retrograde step backwards and is a metropolitan development built at a high level."

However, Councillor Duncan Gair said this argument was "back to the future" as the development complied with the Bowral Development Control Plan (DCP). Peter Edwards lives in close proximity to the development and spoke against it at the meeting, arguing it was "too dense" and did not answer the Bowral DCP, which was in place to ensure "discrete" architectural outcomes.

"It has the appearance of a low cost and low quality development," Mr Edwards said.

"This is Bowral, not Hong Kong or Rio de Janerio."

Councillor Graham McLaughlin supported the development's refusal and said if it was approved, would stand out "like a sore thumb" because of its high density.

"Hopefully we get something that's better quality, fits in better with amenity and something we can be proud of as a council and community," Cr McLaughlin said.

Councilllors Holly Campbell and Gair did not support the refusal with Cr Gair suggesting a review of the DCP to identify if there was a consensus to reduce density in areas across the shire.