SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (KABC) -- The sidewalk in front of a Vons grocery store is now a battleground over development in San Juan Capistrano.
A group began collecting signatures on a petition to stop plans to build a large retirement center in the city.
"The city just can't take the growth, can't take the amount of people and water and strain on our infrastructure," Kimberley McCarthy of San Juan Capistrano said.
Just 10 feet away from the petitioners, the developer is running a counter campaign.
Spieker Senior Development Planners says an Environmental Impact Report proves the center would have no significant impact on traffic or water use. The company also says it's already pre-sold more than half of the available spots.
"Two or three times the marketing success we've seen at any other facility which shows that south Orange County really wants and needs this type of community," said Ryan Currie of Spieker Senior Development Planners.
The retirement center would be built on 35 acres of land that used to be a farm. The owners of the land approached Spieker about building there. The center would feature 407 live-in units and a medical facility.
In a split decision, the San Juan Capistrano City Council voted to re-zone the agricultural land, giving the developer the green light. Critics say that was a mistake.
"The majority of the people that can afford this particular development are coming from out of the city," McCarthy said.
According to Spieker's sales office, 112 of the units have been pre-sold to San Juan Capistrano residents.
Until this is resolved, both groups plan to sit on the sidewalk and make sure the community makes an informed decision.
"Do their own research and understand the facts about the project before you sign a petition to try to block it," Currie said.
The San Juan Capistrano City Clerk says the opposing group has until Nov. 20 to collect 1,751 signatures, 10 percent of active voters in order to get the issue back in front of the City Council again.