PROVO -- It wasn't standing-room-only at the county commission chambers Wednesday night, but only because the fire marshal was throwing out those who were standing in the aisles.

All 137 seats were filled in protest over the commission's decision in December to allow -- via rezone -- a waste transfer station in the Palmyra area, which is west of Springville and Spanish Fork. Dozens of residents were left to mingle in the hallways as the commission heard from various people trying to convince them their decision was a bad one.

The December decision involves the South Utah Valley solid waste transfer station currently located in Springville. The city wants it moved to take advantage of the valuable commercial property it sits on. Construction of a new station would likely take two years to complete.

• The first, and mostly likely to reverse the rezone, however briefly, is a legal issue. "Essentially the rezone was invalid because it was done contrary to statute," said attorney Rod Rivers. That's because signed permission from landowners is required to rezone an area from protected agriculture to anything else. Rivers contends that signatures are also needed from nearby property owners impacted by the change, even if their land wasn't part of the rezone.

Commissioner Steve White said after the meeting that he would be putting the issue on Tuesday's agenda to ensure the process is legally followed. "That's about all that matters to me," White said, "what's right by the law."

• Palmyra resident Shirl Stewart said that 4000 South -- the road that would be traveled if the transfer station was moved -- is currently unsuitable for the proposed garbage truck traffic. "I know what 300 trucks a day is going to do to that," he said. "I just know it won't stand up to that."

The road, he said, is already tricky enough for those who live in the area because of tractors and occasionally livestock finding their way into traffic. Two people have died since 2002 on the road. To expand the road 2.5 miles to the proposed site could cost $15 million, and it doesn't appear on the department of transportation's five-, 10- or 30-year plan. Commissioners have said that they won't approve the actual transfer station until the road is suitable.

• Laura Carter said that the Palmyra area serves as a critical agriculture area, fulfilling goals by Envision Utah and the Utah Lake Commission. Dropping in the transfer station would create a "cancerous cell," she said, that would be just the beginning of the disappearance of the sensitive lands in the area. She argued, "In the West, we have a false sense of elbow room."

Throughout the evening, commissioners alluded to the rights of property owners to do as they choose.

"You folks that own the land determine whether it will be developed. We do not," said Commissioner Larry Ellertson.

Commissioner Gary Anderson said he'd already heard many of the points made Wednesday. But he didn't slam the door on the issue.

"They raised a couple of questions I want to look at," Anderson said. "That's a far cry from changing my mind."