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Both sides in the proposed new development of an area near Magee Ranch are awaiting the Environmental Impact Report to see if the project will go ahead.

SummerHill Homes has proposed development of 64 homes on the eastern side of the property, which is 410 acres south of Diablo and Blackhawk roads. Four of the lots would be larger, for custom homes, and 60 would be on lots of a minimum of 10,000 square feet. A second potential phase on the western side of the property could add an additional 21 homes off Diablo and McCauley roads, with the remainder of the land designated permanent open space.

A group opposed to the project, tentatively called Save Our Creek, has gathered more than 400 signatures on a petition to block the development.

"There was a town council meeting a few weeks ago where they were talking about SummerHill's development," said Bill Ingham, spokesman for the group. "We were able to express our concerns."

Ingham said there are "many, many issues," ranging from increased traffic on roads and overcrowding at Green Valley Elementary School, along with a number of water issues including flooding, drainage and poor water pressure at some homes in the area. He said a number of homeowners associations and the non-profit Save Mount Diablo have also come out in opposition to the plan.

Those who live nearby have said the project could add 700 trips into and out of the development a day and would congest traffic on what they said is an already overcrowded.

"Then, obviously, there's the destruction of the rural nature (of the area,)" he said.

For now, the developers are taking a wait and see approach, according to Land Acquisition Manager Wendi Baker.

"We're waiting for comments back from the town," Baker said. "As we move forward, the EIR is really going to drive how this project evolves."

That report should be done this spring, with a 90-day public comment to follow.

After the EIR is released, Baker said SummerHill will begin another set of community meetings.

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