Surrounded on three sides by the Clovis city limits and facing the prospect of annexation, folks in the Dry Creek Preserve decided it was time to get involved and help determine the future of their rural neighborhood.

Political activism is not exactly in the DNA of rural residents, who like to live where there are fewer rules and more elbow room. But about three years ago, after learning that the city of Clovis was thinking about annexing the 785-acre area, neighbors became activists.

They've been taking steps -- with the blessing of Clovis city officials -- to draw up a blueprint for the future of their unincorporated neighborhood that would require developers to maintain open spaces, build on big lots and forgo streetlights, sidewalks, curbs and gutters.

Their plan may ultimately be incorporated into the update of the Clovis General Plan, which guides development in the city and surrounding areas.

Dry Creek residents are trying to avoid the urbanization that inevitably comes with new-home developments, said Phil Ross, a Dry Creek Preserve committee member working on the community plan.

"We are what Clovis used to be," Ross said. "We feel a part of Clovis, but we don't feel a part of housing developments that have block walls and a backyard you can see six other houses from."

The last time they were politically active was 20 years ago, when residents requested that their rural area be kept out of plans for new city neighborhoods north of Herndon Avenue and south of Shepherd Avenue.

They felt secure in their rural lifestyle -- until Clovis city officials sent letters asking if they would consider annexation.

"It caused people to draw together again," said Dry Creek resident Dale Mitchell.

The area, which lies south of Shepherd Avenue in northeast Clovis and contains about 270 parcels and 1,500 residents, continues to be a target for developers.

For example, Granville Homes is proposing a 31-home development on 30 acres in an eastern section of Dry Creek Preserve.

Granville bought the site from a developer who planned to build 105 homes. Granville proposed building 60 homes, but then whittled back the project further after Dry Creek residents objected.

Because Dry Creek Preserve falls into Clovis' sphere of influence -- county areas that could be annexed by the city -- the City Council decides if the project can be built. Council members voted earlier this month against the plan because Granville wanted to keep the project in the county.

The city, which wants to have direct control over future growth areas, wants to annex the 30-acre area and, if agreements can be negotiated, all of Dry Creek Preserve.

Terms for the Granville project are being negotiated and the project could return to the council for reconsideration early next year.

To satisfy Dry Creek residents, the council is willing to consider granting exceptions to the usual requirements for infrastructure -- streetlights, sidewalks, curbs and gutters.

"Hopefully we have a project that creates a nice environment and makes some money," said Jeff Roberts, a vice president for Granville. "Nobody is totally enamored with it, but it's a middle ground that everybody will move toward."

The Granville project could set a pattern for the larger area. City officials say they would be willing to consider annexation of the entire Dry Creek Preserve while maintaining the area's rural traits.

"If they are annexed, it will be because we come to a series of standards they can live with and annexation would not be the bogeyman to them," said David Fey, Clovis' deputy city planner.