Town councillors invited public questions on Monday to discuss South Somerset District Council’s core strategy proposals.
Despite a public consultation period existing since October, residents argued they had not been given enough time to consider the document.
A leaflet outlining the strategy failed to reach all households as planned because of a delivery mix-up.
Dave Stone, 54, a resident for 35 years, said: “I have heard more about the core strategy from people while I have been walking my dog than from the district council.
“They said they would distribute leaflets but I have not received one.
“We need to get the town buzzing again and we can only do that by attracting new businesses, not by building houses.”
The strategy plans to increase employment land by 1.5 hectares and build 1,053 homes by 2026, increasing the population by around 2,000.
It states 703 new homes have already been allocated, including completed sites, those under construction or with planning permission.
Dr Susan Tindall is worried her 400-year-old listed building in Verrington is in the middle of proposed development land.
“I have looked at the plans and they go right through my house,” she said.
“There has also been serious flash flooding in that area.
“A bridge was washed away two years ago and we were knee deep in water in places where they want to build houses.
“The amount they plan to build will destroy the Verrington valley and be a blot on the landscape.”
Town councillor Colin Winder said: “Unless we get employment in the town to justify building the new houses the town centre will deteriorate. There is no way we can go on building homes unless we can provide jobs.
“We have to make this a sustainable town and it is not one if 65 per cent of the town travel to other areas to work.”
“We have grave concerns about the need for the extra 350 houses planned.”
A spokesperson for the district council said: “We booked a contract with Royal Mail to deliver to 100 per cent of postcodes within the district, between September and October so all homes should have received the leaflet. We are not aware that a large number of homes were missed.
“We are working on an Infrastructure Delivery Plan which will consider in more detail what infrastructure and road improvements may be needed to accompany new development.”
Town clerk Sam Skirton will be posting the council’s official response to the strategy on its website and noticeboard outside the town hall by December 3.