A citizens group will continue gathering signatures for a referendum opposing a 2-square-mile development on the northern side of town despite a poll showing townwide support for the project.

Organizers began gathering signatures last week challenging plans by Ellman Cos. of Phoenix to build 1,350 homes on former state-trust land that had separated the town from McDowell Mountains Regional Park.

The Fountain Hills Town Council approved details of the project May 15 despite a handful of angry protesters.

Neighbors of the project have raised concerns about land disturbance and traffic that could pour into their streets.

"It's really a communitywide effort and issue," said protestor Sharon Hutcheson. "It's giving our residents a chance to learn more and have more input."

The group has until June 16 to turn in 559 valid signatures of registered town voters to put the issue on the Nov. 4 ballot.

But a recent poll for Ellman indicates that 80 percent of the 300 Fountain Hills registered voters they surveyed are in favor of plans for the project.

Ellman hired a Virginia polling firm to conduct the poll May 21-22.

"Given the questions that were asked, we really were no surprised by the results," Hutcheson said. Ellman bought the property at auction in March 2007 from the Arizona State Land Department for $110.1 million, which at the time was the second-most-expensive piece of state-trust land ever auctioned in Arizona.

The land came with a negotiated entitlement that would have allowed Ellman to build as many as 1,750 homes but the company has since chopped the number to 1,350 homes.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2010, when lots could be sold and turned over to builders.