BIGGS, CA (MPG) - Biggs residents have drafted and begun circulating a petition asking residents of the small community to support their cause.

The petition comes as the City Council looks to approve the Hamman Subdivision Project, the development of a 7.55-acre lot on 6th Street that would bring 18 single-family homes and two apartment complexes, totaling 42-units to the town.

Amanda Mattos appears to have drafted the petition, which is found on Change.org and is circulating on social media. It is gaining momentum, with more than 100 signatures at press time.

The petition claims that Biggs’ “infrastructure is already on the back foot - we're grappling with failing services, scant law enforcement, and strains on our electricity and sewerage systems. Furthermore, this development might lead to more students being added to our school district which is currently ill-equipped to handle a significant increase.”

It further claims that, “There is a serious lack of resources to accommodate such a transformative project without putting an undue burden on existing residents and services. Our town, no more than 1.6 square miles and home to only about 1,707 people (as per US Census data, 2020), is not ready to face a potential stress this would cause on our urban fabric.”

The topic has become a hot-button issue between residents Kory Hamman (project manager) and Biggs city officials. A rebuttal to the concerns of the residents regarding Biggs’ infrastructure is that the project will provide the funds necessary to tackle those issues. With more money flowing to the city’s accounts from utilities and taxes, Biggs would be able to repair roads and more.

Other sources of contention are whether Biggs is beholden to Governor Gavin Newsom’s mandates on the development of affordable housing throughout the state, including rural communities, and if the appropriate studies have been done for the project and if they are still timely.

Despite Mayor Brian Bassett, City Administrator Josh Cook and others sharing articles from various publications with their constituents in attempts to explain the mandates they are up against, there has still been a lot of pushback from vocal community members.

The City of Biggs has held multiple City Council meetings on the topic to allow members of the public to voice concerns, ask questions or share information.

Hamman has also made himself available to answer public questions at meetings or on Facebook.

Locals have taken to social media, especially Biggs-based Facebook pages, expressing their strong opinions and frustrations.

The next City Council Meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 1 in Biggs City Hall. Agendas are posted to https://www.biggs-ca.gov/Government/Agendas--Minutes/index.html.