But Premier Chris Minns has dismissed the criticism as "hyperventilating", adding the state government has a mandate to ramp up building to tackle the housing crisis.
Weeks before Christmas, the Labour government announced a major planning overhaul, including 40 transport hubs proposed to cater to 210,000 new dwellings across greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
The proposed precincts - including many in heritage-protected areas - would be subject to increased density.
Dual occupancies, such as duplexes, will also automatically be allowed in all low-density residential areas, many of which are currently characterised by single homes on large blocks.
But multiple Sydney councils say the government hasn't provided enough information about the zoning changes.
Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone said the proposed dual-occupancy shift would "bring an end to the family home".
"It's the end of the backyard, you won't be able to put that hills hoist in the backyard, you definitely won't be able to play backyard cricket," he told Sydney radio 2GB on Wednesday.
He argued Sydney's housing challenges were a result of increased immigration not being matched by new housing.
Chris Minns has dismissed criticism of his housing policy as "hyperventilating". (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)
Ku-ring-gai councillor Mark Smith accused the government of trying to ram the changes through state parliament.
"We want to consult with our community, we want planning done right (and) we don't want a planning model that is one-size-fits-all," he told ABC Radio.
Opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow said people had a right to know how their community would be impacted by higher-density housing and how other infrastructure would keep up with population increases.
"The premier is creating a revolt around Sydney and NSW because he is not bringing communities along on the journey with him," he said.
"If the premier wants to get planning right, if he wants to deliver more homes, he's got to do it in consultation with communities, he's got to set targets and ask (communities) to design it for how they want to live."
Mr Minns earlier dismissed Mr Carbone's comments as "hyperventilating" and "ridiculous" and said the government was trying to address the state's housing issues, which had been ignored for too long.
"We're actually for the first time in a long time trying to engage with these issues, bring along local governments, have practical changes to zoning and planning so that young people can have a place to live in Sydney," he said.
"I'm not saying there's not going to be friction on the way through but we can't stop, because stopping in relation to housing in Sydney means young people do not have a place to live."
Annual building completions for NSW sit at about 48,000 homes, well short of the 75,000 annual average that the state has committed to for the next five years.
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