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Clinton residents are asking the Prince George's County Council for a public hearing to voice opposition to a proposed mixed-use redevelopment project that would add at least 2,000 homes and apartments to the area.

Nearly 200 concerned residents gathered Thursday night at the Surratts-Clinton library to inform and mobilize community members who oppose the commercial and residential development of Hyde Field Airport in Clinton. The residents plan to attend a Sept. 9 County Council work session at which the council is scheduled to vote on the issue.

David Billings, a spokesman for council Chairwoman Marilynn Bland (D-Dist. 9) of Clinton, said Friday that residents had a chance to speak at April and May county Planning Board hearings and that the record would remain closed for the Sept. 9 meeting.

However, residents who are concerned with the area's congested and unsafe roads say they are hoping the county will hold an additional hearing before voting.

"If you go, your show in numbers counts," said Mel Franklin of Marlton, who is also running for the District 9 County Council seat in 2010. "Even if you can't talk Sept. 9, you need to be there."

Clinton resident Catherine Taggart-Ross, a candidate for the 2010 District 9 seat, said she has seen the council open for public comment if residents show strong community support or opposition, but she said a large group is never a guarantee for a public comments session.

Mary Forsht-Tucker of Clinton, who co-hosted the gathering Thursday, provided postcards to attendees to petition for an additional hearing. The council is in recess until September, but Forsht-Tucker said Thursday she planned to send postcards to all County Council members by the next day.

Many residents at Thursday's meeting said their main concern was the addition of thousands of residents along Piscataway Road would further clog roads that are already jammed and unsafe.

Chip Reed, the attorney for Nabil Asterbadi, who has owned Hyde Field since 1992, said that although road widening, repair and the construction of additional roads could be required by the development team, details have not been specified.

Reed, who practices in Greenbelt, said if the zoning changes are approved in September, the next step will be to conduct a traffic study to define problem areas.

The council's vote in September would rezone the property from its current use as industrial space to allow for residential and commercial construction.

But many residents who have lived in the area for decades say they are frustrated with the county's zoning procedures.

Mendelssohn McLean of Clinton said he has heard developers promise new and safer roads before but fail to follow through.

"You're asking us to buy a deal without knowing what the deal is," said McLean.

Franklin and Forsht-Tucker said if the zoning change is passed, a lawsuit against the county alleging a lack of public input would be one of the only efficient options to slow the development process.

E-mail Megan McKeever at mmckeever@gazette.net.