For weeks, many homeowners in Irving's Fairway Vista neighborhood have opposed a controversial zoning case involving the Four Seasons Resort and Club's plans for dozens of condos on its golf course.

But the Four Seasons' neighbors are now questioning whether contributions the resort's owner made to three successful City Council re-election campaigns will color the outcome of the pending zoning case.

"It would appear to us that their votes are for sale for $20,000," said James Robertson, president of Fairway Vista's homeowners association. "How else would you look at that?"

Fred Wehba, whose firm Bentley Forbes owns the resort, last month gave Mayor Herbert Gears $10,000 for his successful re-election bid. Mr. Wehba, through a family trust, similarly gave $5,000 each to Allan Meagher and Rose Cannaday.

But the trio said campaign contributions do not influence how they weigh in on city business. Instead, they said, they look at the merits of each case, which typically includes a property owner's right to develop.

Officials in the city attorney's office and at the Texas Ethics Commission said this week no rules require City Council members to abstain from votes that involve campaign contributors.

The 7.7 acres in question sit between the golf course's 17th hole and Fairway Vista. The zoning case asks to amend the city's comprehensive plan to allow single-family attached, medium-density development. The current plan only allows detached units in fewer numbers. For the project to move forward, the city would also need to increase the overall number of acres dedicated to multi-family development for that area of Las Colinas.

Fairway Vista homeowners and Bentley Forbes representatives are scheduled to meet today to discuss the project.

In April, the planning and zoning commission reached a 4-4 deadlock (the ninth commissioner was absent) on whether to recommend an approval or denial to the council. The panel is expected to take the matter up again Monday.

Among other complaints, homeowners said the plans would place a street serving the development too close to their backyards. They also said that when they bought their homes, they believed a less dense project would go on the land. They fear a denser project will drive down their property values.

"The housing market's under enough pressure today without adding something that's going to lower it," said Mr. Robertson, the HOA president.

Mr. Meagher and Ms. Cannaday said Wednesday they have yet to decide whether they will weigh in on the project. Both are researching the case and whether voting would create an ethical violation. Still, Mr. Meagher said he understands the possible perception that could come from participating in a zoning case tied to a major campaign contributor.

"I'll make sure Irving is legitimate and legal before I do anything," Mr. Meagher said.

Mr. Gears said he will probably vote if the matter comes before the council, which could happen this month.

"If someone wants to criticize what you do, they make it up anyway, so you just have to remain consistent in how you evaluate your decisions," he said.

Among criticisms surrounding the Four Seasons' plans are rumors that Mr. Wehba paid for Mr. Gears and his wife to visit him in Los Angeles, where he wined and dined them. Mr. Gears and Mr. Wehba both denied those accusations this week.

Mr. Gears said he and his wife frequently travel to Los Angeles, and on one self-funded trip they briefly met with Mr. Wehba because he had just bought the resort.

In an e-mailed response to questions sent to his office this week, Mr. Wehba said it's not uncommon for him to make contributions to campaigns in cities where his firm owns property. The pending zoning case, he said, was not a factor in his Irving contributions.

"It is important to the long-term goals of Bentley Forbes that it support what it considers to be a strong, visionary and balanced City Council that will help the resort, its significant tax revenues and community economic stimulators to flourish within the community," Mr. Wehba said in the e-mail.