WEDDINGTON, N.C. -- The Union County town of Weddington was divided on Monday night because of a proposed waste water treatment plant.

Developers are planning to build a 200-home subdivision near Providence Road and N.C. 84, but to make it happen they want to build their own water and sewer system. The Woods subdivision has been in limbo since 2006 due to the issue. If the plant is approved it would be one of the final hurdles for developers to start building.

Hundreds of people packed in to the meeting on Monday night, with many Weddington neighbors bringing "No Sewer Plant" signs inside.

Those with builder IB Development say they have no choice but to build their own sewer treatment plant since currently the county has little sewage capacity left. Developers said the plant would go in the middle of the development and blend in with the surroundings.

"I think for the most part, people are just scared when they hear waste water treatment plant," said IB Development representative Philip Walton. "The name sounds scary in and of itself. And without understanding that it's going to be totally concealed, there's going to be no noise, no smell, that it's going to provide this beneficial value."

They also said the development will be able to reuse their water -- an important advantage with the state's drought situation.

However, nearby neighbors said they're concerned about smell, quality of life and what the precedent of one approved waste water plant could mean for Union County.

"This is the first, but the moment it is approved, they'll be mushrooming all over the county," said resident Ram Manchi. "This will become like a sewer plant town, which we don't want to happen.

The meeting was expected to go late in to the evening, and if no decision is made it will pick up again next Monday night.

Developers said if building could start soon, they would hope to have the first set of homes completed by late next summer. The entire development is expected to take 5-6 years to complete.