ALTA — As the first snow of the season dusted this small ski town with fresh powder, about 75 residents gathered to discuss a proposal to put 10 massive homes at the bottom of Albion Basin.

The proposal to put new luxury homes in Little Cottonwood Canyon would be on land obtained by Jody Shrontz, a well-known nature advocate who died in a plane crash in 2003.

Audience members sat in rapt attention when Herbert Livsey, a personal representative of the Shrontz estate, stood up to testify.

He told the audience the Shrontz family first wanted to put a permanent conservation easement on the land, but changed its mind after realizing the tax implications that would be involved in such a decision.

"The land is private property," Livsey told the crowd. "If it can meet the ordinances, it has a right to be developed and the heirs of the estate have a right to realize what their mother left them."

Representatives of two local nonprofit associations urged the Alta Town Council to reject the subdivision and preserve the land as open space.

"The proposed subdivision threatens all remaining undeveloped lands," said Friends of Alta President Jennifer Clancy. She added that current residents are but temporary stewards of resources like fields of snow, wildflowers and wetlands.

Another resident read aloud a poem written about the proposed subdivision, drawing laughs and applause from the crowd.

"There has to be a better way," said Bob Binger, closing his lilting passage. "We must find a better way."

Attorneys for the Shrontz estate gave an hour-long presentation to the council before the public was allowed to speak.

Lead attorney Alan Sullivan said case law ratified by the Utah Supreme Court means his clients should be given time to complete the subdivision application as long as they act with reasonable diligence. The town planning commission recommended rejecting the application earlier this year.

But the council's waiting could mean there won't be a decision until 2011 because the project does not yet provide access to clean water.

Salt Lake City, which controls Alta's water system, has rejected an application for a connection with the Patsey Marley subdivision. Now, the applicants are hoping to build a private water system but must get approval from the U.S. Forest Service and from the state Division of Drinking Water.

The attorneys and heirs repeated claims that were first made publicly over the summer. No trees will be displaced by the development and most of the land will be kept as open space, they said.

Livsey also promised to ensure the project will comply with local, state and federal laws.

"If we're wrong on an ordinance, we'll correct it," he said, pleading with the council for a nonconfrontational approach. "I pledge to you, we will do what's necessary to satisfy your ordinances."

The council will next consider the subdivision proposal Oct. 8, said Mayor Tom Pollard.

"This is a very emotionally charged issue among the folks in the community," he said. "We will provide a complete and thorough analysis of this and we will move forward on the process."

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com