Objectors to plans for a "garden village" at Skerningham have urged the council to scrap the proposals - or hold a referendum on them.
Residents said their opposition would not go away - and warned the Skerningham controversy could be "politically toxic".
Objectors came to a Darlington Borough Council cabinet meeting as consultation starts on the design blueprint for a future development.
Read more: More details on Darlington garden village plan
David Clark was clapped from the public gallery as he told council leaders: "We won't be ignored.
"If the developer or the council think the local communities are just going to sit back and let this happen without a fight, then they've sadly underestimated the feeling for Skerningham.
"Skerningham woodlands is the lungs of north Darlington.
"It's a country park. It's a little bit different because there's also a lot of wildlife living there. There's a lot of protected species. So it really needs protecting.
"The woodlands in Skerningham are the only true public-accessible woodlands in the north of Darlington."
He was asked how many people were opposed to the development for about 1,650 homes by 2036, with the area set aside for 4,500 homes in total in the 20-year Darlington Local Plan earlier this year.
He said: "I don't know the percentage but I do know it'll be high.
"Can I ask for the council to do a referendum in Darlington to see whether people want Skerningham?" he suggested, to further applause.
"You've got the local election coming up, it could be politically toxic so let's get it sorted and let the people speak on whether they want this or not."
Read more: Darlington Skerningham development - 'A long, long way to go yet'
Fellow objector Alan Macnab said: "There's widespread opposition to the Skerningham proposals, which has united residents in north and north-east Darlington like never before.
"Residents are very angry and hurt that their lives will be made worse by this development and the environment around them will be destroyed."
He said of the design: "It totally ignores the existing communities within and surrounding Skerningham. You cannot plan one without the other.
"Darlington must have a local plan, I totally accept that, but I'm concerned about the power and the influence that the developers have over this authority.
"You've sided with the developers over the people on this, and that's shocking.
"The solid opposition to Skerningham is not going to dissipate any time soon.
"The way out of this is to take Skerningham garden village out of the local plan, because there's no support for it, none whatsoever."
Read more: Darlington local plan including Skerningham development is PASSED
Asked questions about water, sewage and road issues, economy cabinet member Councillor Alan Marshall said the local plan was found to be sound by a planning inspector.
He said: "All other matters... will be dealt with under detailed matters in any planning application.
"It's early yet. We haven't had any planning applications yet so we don't know where things are located.
"I think they are very appropriate questions. But I think they are more appropriate for the consultation process.
"Everybody will have an opportunity through the consultation process to make their feelings known.
"The viability of the site was examined in detail and the plan was found to be sound."
He said applications would be assessed using a traffic light system, though the details of this too were queried by residents including Roz Henderson, who expressed concern it may be "toothless".
Read more: Skerningham - Green Party leader backs Darlington woodland
David Hand, head of planning policy, economic strategy and environment, said: "This is going out for consultation for people to make comment if they think there are irregularities, errors.
"I don't accept what Mr Clark is saying. The key thing is we're not revisiting the fact that Skerningham is allocated in the local plan. It's been throughly examined, the residents had their opportunity. I think you will agree you were treated fairly."
The cabinet agreed on consultation to go ahead for the draft "design code" for the development.
It will be brought back to cabinet and the full council at a later date.
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