A standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 jammed the Glenvar Middle School auditorium Thursday night to hear a proposal to build a new asphalt plant within sight of the school.

It was clearly not a popular idea among those in attendance.

Speaker after speaker questioned the safety and aesthetic impact of such a plant, proposed by Adams Construction Co., so near the Glenvar schools and a group of residential subdivisions.

A woman who identified herself only as Judy gave an impassioned speech quoting studies alleging a variety of ill effects from asphalt plants.

"We must put the health of our children first," she said, as well as the health of those living in the "over 550 households living within one mile" of the site.

She drew the loudest applause of the night by concluding, "And I'm asking Adams Construction to please withdraw this facility, for the children."

Company President Gary Wright and Executive Vice President Rick James did not respond to that request, which came near the end of the two-hour meeting.

They and the experts they brought along to answer questions about pollution and other issues seemed to fail to convince most in the crowd that a modern asphalt plant would not be smelly, dusty and noisy -- even from a half-mile or so away.

Wright, who said he lives only 1,700 feet from the proposed plant site, insisted that it would be a good neighbor, unlike the stereotypical plants of three or more decades ago.

Adams Construction's landholding subsidiary, Foxhall Properties LLC, is asking Roanoke County to rezone a portion of the old Salem water treatment plant property for high-intensity industrial use.

The company is also seeking a special-use permit to allow the plant to mix asphalt, the sale and application of which is Adams' primary business.

The construction proposal for the 15-acre property at 4127 W. Main St. would be unique in the nation, James said, and, he contended, an appropriate reuse of many of the existing buildings on the site.

The Roanoke County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the company's requests Feb. 3. If it reaches a conclusion on a recommendation that night, the proposal would move to the county board of supervisors on Feb. 24.

It is not unusual, however, for the planning commission to request additional information on complex and controversial projects, delaying their final consideration.

The company said the new plant would help lower its costs for bidding on upcoming projects such as a widening of Interstate 81 and U.S. 11/460, which provides access to the site.