Hundreds of residents in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., say they’re worried that state housing mandates might cost the city a popular field known locally for its springtime burst of flowers. Rose Canyon is a 3.5 acre, undeveloped site that was “generally accepted” by a city focus group to repurpose for housing, although further study is required to determine how many units the property could accommodate. A petition from members of the Rancho Santa Margarita community, intended to protect the Rose Canyon as a community resource, is calling on the city to consider other options. “[Rose Canyon] serves as a direct walking path to the canyon, brings nature into the master planned community and is constantly used by the people who live here,” the petition said. “This greenbelt space is not large enough to fulfill the state’s requirement, leaving additional land needed for development. Using this small parcel of land takes away an aesthetic that makes RSM so beautiful …