They have signed petitions and raised $17,000 to preserve the ambience of their Arden neighborhood.

Now, the 40 or so residents in the Sierra Heights Vista area are asking local government to support their effort.

"What we are trying to do is to rezone our subdivision to fit the current rural feel," said resident Jerry Hargraves. "We don't want to lose the character of our neighborhood."

Hargraves will ask the Arden Arcade Community Council on Tuesday to back the neighborhood's bid.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Department of Human Assistance community room at 2700 Fulton Ave.

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will have the final say on the proposed rezoning, but its members could be swayed by the council's recommendation.

Hargraves and his neighbors on Joseph Avenue and the north side of Northrop Avenue want the zoning in their 15.5-acre subdivision lowered from five homes per acre to two.

The neighborhood effort is aimed at blocking future property owners from subdividing their large lots before selling.

Several property owners on Joseph Avenue have tried to subdivide over the past five years, but most have failed, mainly because of neighborhood opposition.

"We lose one lot split, and we are sunk, because these lot splits dovetail off each other," Hargraves said.

Last month, the council approved a nearby development that allows 11 homes on 2.51 acres in the area of Jonas Avenue between Hurley Way and Northrop Avenue, just 300 feet north of Joseph Avenue.

Called The Bridge at Jonas, the project will add its gated community to several other small gated developments nearby.

A majority of residents spoke in favor of the project, citing the developer's cooperation with neighbor concerns, such as reducing the number of lots from 12 to 11.

The narrow parcel for The Bridge at Jonas is nearly landlocked by the four nearby gated communities. Each was approved at a different time over the years by various planning agencies.

Each tract differs in appearance, including architecture.

Residents have criticized the lack of planning and uniformity among the gated communities.

The battleground, however, has long been on Joseph Avenue.

"The neighbors don't want to see the parcels subdivided, creating a hodgepodge of homes that have no continuity," Hargraves said.

The first land fight happened in 2003 when a property owner tried to split his lot. The proposal was defeated after 37 of 40 homeowners signed a petition opposing it.

Another property owner tried to subdivide in 2005, but he, too, was opposed by his neighbors.

He filed suit but lost in Sacramento Superior Court.

Hargraves said it became apparent earlier this year that the only permanent solution is to rezone the area. But that costs money for application fees and studies.

"We got 18 pledges totaling $10,300. More than half of the residents are senior citizens," Hargraves said.

After $8,714 was paid in application fees, the remaining funds were used to help pay for an unexpected $7,000 environmental report. Hargraves then donated the remainder needed for the report – about $5,700.

The study concluded that rezoning would prohibit 91 potential residences from being added to the Sierra Heights Vista area.

"This is our permanent fix," Hargraves said of his neighbors' bid to rezone the property.

Call The Bee's Ramon Coronado, (916) 321-1013.