Developers, contractors and other businesses have started mailing out hundreds of thousands of informational packets to residents of the state, warning them of dire consequences if Proposition 202 becomes law. They're being joined in their $1-million-plus campaign against the initiative by a variety of others, from farmers to real estate agents.

If it passes in November, Proposition 202 would require virtually every city in the state to draw 10-year growth boundaries around their communities. The entire infrastructure cost of anything built outside those boundaries would be shouldered by developers, who would likely be forced to pass those costs along to commercial tenants through higher rents and to home-buyers through higher prices.

The proposition would also allow citizens to file suit against any city or project that they feel isn't following the stringent new limits. Communities would have two years to establish their growth boundaries, during which time any new development projects would be severely limited.