It was just a little over a year ago that Hidden Valley and Thunderbird Farms residents spoke out about a large new development creeping into their neighborhood.

Their position hasn’t changed — and they’re preparing to speak up again.

A few dozen residents showed up to an emergency meeting last night at Thunderbird Fire Station in preparation for a now-rescheduled Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on the Rio Blanco Ranch development.

The residents, however, learned last night that the meeting was rescheduled from April 17 to May 15 after signs were improperly installed and some residents reported not receiving notifications about the meeting.

This would have prevented residents from submitting a mailed letter of opposition — or support — to the county government by the April 10 deadline, as well as having adequate time to review the 2,364-page document submitted by developer CVL Consultants.

Laurie Fuller is one Thunderbird Farms resident who has been critical of the development.

“For me, it’s about the neighbors. These are our dream properties,” she told InMaricopa. “I am retired and spent my whole life working and saving money [for this]. The idea of 1,500 houses directly west of me makes me sick.”

That’s because what little pristine desert remains is in danger of disappearing altogether, along with what Fuller and her neighbors fear would be a mismanagement of water and severely increased traffic.

The proposed housing development would sit on the southwest corner of Amarillo Valley and Val Vista Roads, stretching down to Louis Johnson Drive. The current plan is for the neighborhood to accommodate 2,089 new homes on approximately 597 acres, equating to about 3½ homes per acre.

Most homes in the area sit on two or more acres, meaning the area will become significantly denser than what residents are currently used to.

But what worries Fuller and her rural neighbors is the developer’s request to rezone the area to R-7 Single Residence, meaning the area could accommodate up to seven homes per acre if approved.

Rio Blanco isn’t the only development planned for the area. Amarillo Creek, Venida and Palomino Ranch are already under construction, Sunset Canyon was approved in December and 10 other housing developments are in different stages of the planning process.

That could mean at least an additional 22,500 cookie-cutter homes in Hidden Valley and Thunderbird Farms. And that major change in lifestyle is what has residents concerned.

“Those of us that pay taxes out there should be recognized as loving and caring residents of the land,” Fuller said. “The board of supervisors, when they pass something, they always say ‘property owners’ rights.’ It’s their right to do what they want with their property. What about us? What happens to our neighbors?”