A group of Lancaster residents have organized to battle a proposed housing plan that they say will shatter their neighborhood.

Calling themselves the Committee for Hillcrest Acres, about 15 homeowners have circulated a petition and contacted local representatives about a proposed 51-acre development to be called Scenic Hills. Most of the homeowners live on Southview Drive, which used to be known as Hillcrest Acres until about 15 years ago.

Scenic Hills would be a 118-unit plan with a mix of single-family homes, townhouses and quad-units near Northview and Southview drives, said Steven Victor, of Victor Wetzel Associates, representing the developer Eagle Flight Developments.

The plan would put 13 single-family homes on Northview Drive. The townhouses and quad units would be along a new Southview Drive loop that would be created by extending the cul-de-sac so that it effectively connects with itself. The neighborhood would include a clubhouse, sidewalks and more than 17 acres of green space, Mr. Victor said.

David Kerr, of Southview Drive, chairman of the committee, said he feared the character of his neighborhood would be radically altered by the development.

"It's a very nice street and a very nice neighborhood and it's about to be destroyed," he said.

Mr. Kerr believes that language in the zoning ordinance that says new developments must "preserve the character of the existing residential neighborhood" could be Scenic Hills' downfall.

"I'm hanging my hat on that statement," he said. "I think we're going to win this."

Mr. Kerr said the density of the proposed plan would simply be too much for that parcel. He cited increased traffic, unsafe conditions and the loss of tranquility as negatives that Scenic Hills could bring.

Residents of the area fear that the development could put more than 100 additional vehicles on Southview Drive headed to and from Route 19 each day during rush hour.

"My wife built our home 30 years ago," he said. "It's nice and quiet and peaceful here."

Mr. Victor noted that sewer lines would be available through the Western Butler County Authority from the area of the Log Cabin Inn restaurant on Route 19, meaning that public sewers would be available to existing residents.

Mr. Kerr said he had no problem with the plans for sewer lines, but he feared that the quad-units would attract real estate investors who would buy the units but not necessarily maintain them.

The township supervisors have until Feb. 1 to decide whether to grant the development conditional use approval.