Oracle residents have won their second petition-gathering effort in two years against a major development proposal. 

This time, Robson Communities does not appear as likely to fold its plans for the new 5,900-home SaddleBrooke Ranch development as did the residents' previous 

A Robson official said Friday that he will seek a compromise with residents over SaddleBrooke Ranch. But it will build a smaller, unregulated development of homes on larger lots if compromise efforts fail. Last spring, Rancho Coronado backers persuaded the Board of Supervisors to rescind a 1999 rezoning for the project, 

The Pinal County Recorder's Office last week certified that development opponents turned in far more than the 2,819 valid petition signatures needed to secure a 

Residents overcame a $46,000 effort by a citizens committee with ties to Robson to try to persuade county residents not to sign petitions. Robson bought $21,938 

"The signatures were very easy to get," said Andrew Rush, who chairs the pro-referendum Oracle Town Hall Steering Committee. "People were empathetic with our issue. It was a piece of cake." 

Rush said he was happy at the successful petition drive, but said the group's battles are far from over because he expects development pressure to continue. First will be the recently shelved Willow Springs Ranch project on 19,000 acres east of Falcon Valley, which lies northwest of Oracle. 

Willow Springs' developers will bring a somewhat scaled back version of their original 34,000-home plan to Oracle residents at a public community meeting tomorrow night at the Oracle Community Center on American Avenue. 

Steve Soriano, a Robson senior vice president, said the company invites Oracle residents to find a solution that satisfies both sides. "If their goals are assurance of safe water and smart development, then they would work with us. If their goal