A controversial plan to build an asphalt plant in West Roanoke County has been withdrawn.

Adams Construction Co. notified the county Thursday that it is dropping -- at least for now -- its plans to convert the former Salem water treatment plant site on West Main Street into an asphalt production facility.

The company said it will continue to look for an appropriate site in West County, however.

"What we are doing is listening to the concerns of the neighbors and following up on a good faith effort to look for alternative sites," said Rick James, Adams' executive vice president.

The project drew fire from some nearby residents as soon as it was announced in January. Hundreds of people turned out for community meetings and a five-hour planning commission meeting in February.

After that body endorsed the project on a 3-1 vote, opponents formally organized a nonprofit group and prepared to fight the proposal before the board of supervisors.

Two members of that board -- Butch Church, who represents the Catawba District where the plant would be located, and Charlotte Moore -- publicly stated they were going to vote against the necessary rezoning and special-use permit for the plant.

Adams then asked for a delay for the vote on the project until April 28.

James said Thursday that the company has found one or more potentially acceptable alternative sites and will spend the next few months evaluating them.

In a letter formally withdrawing the application, Adams Construction President Gary Wright said his company spent four months studying the water treatment plant site to ensure that it "was an appropriate land use and posed no risk to human health or the environment before submitting the rezoning application. As a responsible business and neighbor, we will conduct the same due diligence with these sites."

Wright also wrote, however, that, "If none of the alternate sites work, we will need to resubmit the application now being withdrawn." The county code would not allow that for at least one year, however.

A leader of a group of neighbors who have been marshaling forces to fight the project was elated at Thursday's news.

"We are pleased that Adams Construction is looking at alternative sites and very excited that they have pulled the petition for 4127 West Main," said Judy Conyers of Citizens for Positive Growth.

Her group has cited concerns about toxic emissions, traffic, noise, odors and dust, even as Adams contended that its plant would be completely safe and free from the annoyances that have been associated with such operations in the past.

"That site was too close to the schools, to nursing homes, churches, day cares and a residential community," Conyers said.

"From the beginning, this has been about the site, not about asphalt or about Adams, but about heavy industry zoning and the proximity to a vulnerable population."

Conyers said she "would prefer that Glenvar not be a site for any asphalt plant. ... We hope they are looking at more remote sites."

Church said in an e-mail that he was "extremely pleased" by the withdrawal of the application. His concerns, he said, were never about Adams but by the potential for a type of business that "would have adversely impacted an entire community."

"As for other potential sites, I will take a wait and see attitude," Church said, although, "as far as western Roanoke County is concerned, I have never been convinced that one [asphalt plant] must be located in this area."

James and the company disagree. Because asphalt must be used while it is still hot, proximity to job sites is important in order to make competitive bids for work and get jobs completed, the company argues.

James said he expects bidding to begin this summer on the widening of U.S. 11/460, and that an additional truck lane on Interstate 81 is likely to be approved for later construction.

"We're just keeping our eye on the target, that we have a very viable business need on that end of the county."