People in a southern Kentucky neighborhood are in fear of their health and their homes.

A Laurel County developer says he's going to build a blacktop plant and hundreds of people worry it will be put within sight of their houses.

Three-year-old Mary Jane loves to swing in her back yard, but if a blacktop plant is built within sight of her home her mother says playing outside could turn into a health hazard.

"The chemical fumes it would emit.. I did some research on the internet. It's known to producer cancers, disorders," said Rhonda Sharp who opposes the plant.

Sharp says a blacktop plant would be nothing but bad news for her and hundreds of other homeowners.

Homeowners say children in this neighborhood aren't just at risk. An elementary school is nearby, another one is under construction.

Paul Claiborne is mounting an effort to protest. He lives within 600 feet of where he says the plant could be built.

The owner of the proposed blacktop plant wasn't available for comment, but a worker at Kay and Kay Contracting says a plant is being proposed, but a location hasn't been determined.

Kay and Kay has filed papers with the state division of air quality to build the plant. A state environmental official says where the plant is located is beyond their regulatory control.

Dozens of people are now seeking help from their local county officials. They're doing that because the area is not governed by planning and zoning laws. Those people plan to take their concerns to the Laurel County Fiscal Court meeting on Thursday night