SAN MARCOS -- While residents debate the merits of a controversial slow-growth initiative, the three candidates in this year's City Council race are unified in their opposition to the measure.

The initiative, Proposition O, has dominated election talk this year.

If approved, the measure would require voter approval for any development project that needs a general plan amendment to proceed. Adopted in the 1970s, the general plan serves as a blueprint for development and growth in San Marcos.

Incumbent council members Rebecca Jones and Hal Martin will face off against challenger Dean Nelson in the race for two seats on Nov. 4.

Jones and Martin joined their fellow council members in denouncing Prop. O in June, saying the general plan is outdated and that the city needs some flexibility when it comes to development projects.

In recent interviews, the two reiterated previously stated reasons for opposing the measure.

"It'll make it harder for developers to develop here, so we'll have missed opportunities," said Martin, a 58-year-old photographer who is seeking his fourth council term. "And things will have to go to a vote. So that'll make things more costly for residents."

Jones, 41 and a furniture marketing company owner who was appointed to the council last year, said the passage of Prop. O would also would put residents in the "very precarious position" of having to wade through hundreds of pages of environmental reports and other documents that council members deal with now.

"Quite frankly, who has the time to do all of that reading," Jones said. "People would rather be spending their time with friends, watching their kids' soccer games or going out for dinner -- anything except reading all those environmental impact reports."

As the sole challenger in this year's council race, Nelson might be expected to take an opposite tack on Prop. O. Manager of a local hardware store and a planning commissioner who ran unsuccessfully for the council in 2006, Nelson, 46, said he was prepared to support the voters' decision on the proposition if he is elected to the council.

However, he described Prop. O as a misguided attempt to shape future development in San Marcos.

"I just don't believe in ballot-box planning," he said. "It doesn't work."

Prop. O supporters gathered signatures to qualify it for the ballot earlier this year. The move was a response to the council's approval last year of the controversial Palomar Station project.

The proposed development, which calls for a mix of condominiums, stores and offices to be added to an industrial area near Palomar College, required a general plan amendment.

Prop. O advocates say the measure is needed to ensure the council sticks to the general plan.

Opponents note the plan was created long before anyone thought of building things like Cal State University San Marcos. Last month, the council took the first step in updating the plan by authorizing the city's staff to seek proposals from consultants for help with that effort.

Nelson said he thought the debate over future growth and development could have been avoided if the council had done the update years ago.

More distressing, though, is the way the issue has divided the city, he said.

"I've been knocking on doors and that's one of the things that I'm hearing," Nelson said. "People are saying we have citizens campaigning against each other."

Information about Martin's and Jones' council campaigns can be found at www.martinandjonesforcitycouncil.com. Nelson has his own campaign Web site at nelsonforcouncil.com.

Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.