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Crematory plan to go to commission

The city leaders, not their staff members, will decide whether Serenity Gardens Memorial Park gets to build a new facility.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published April 25, 2006

LARGO - A controversial plan to build a crematory at Serenity Gardens Memorial Park could come before the City Commission in June.

The cemetery filed a site plan last week for a 13,177-square-foot, one-story crematory and care facility.

Many residents who live near the cemetery oppose the proposed facility, which would have three furnaces and be about 120 feet from the nearest homes. They're worried about how the crematory would affect traffic and their health.

"I plan on living in that neighborhood for a good many years. If that building, that incinerator, puts out one speck more of pollution than that piece of property puts out right now, it's too much," said resident Stanley Gams, 56.

Several residents shared their concerns with candidates in weeks leading up to the city election. They asked the candidates where they stood.

"I believe the outcome of the election was based on who was going to listen to existing homeowners and voters," said resident Jerry Flanagan, 65.

The residents' appeals may have proved worthwhile.

The city initially said the decision about the crematory was up to city staffers. That's because the site, on the north side of Wilcox Road, is classified as institutional and already allows a cemetery with crematories.

But City Manager Steve Stanton said Monday that the plan will indeed come before the City Commission. The city's development code allows for a public hearing in cases in which a staff review may not protect the public interest.

"Given the sensitivity of this issue, we do need for it to go before the City Commission," Stanton said.

Gams said he is glad the commission will decide, so community members can voice their opinions.

"This is affecting thousands of people. This is not some guy's garage too close to the property line. It's much more important than that," he said.

Mayor Pat Gerard said she is glad that commissioners will decide the crematory's fate.

"When I look at that area, I don't necessarily think it's a compatible use. It's right across the street from this residential area," Gerard said.

Commissioner Gigi Arntzen said she needs to do more research but thinks the crematory may be okay there.

"In reading of the new technology and how they build these facilities and the care they take to make sure they're using the best safeguards, I didn't see that it posed that great of a threat," she said.

Richard Chesler, general manager of Moss Feaster Serenity Gardens, said the crematory is important for his business.

"The cremation rate in our area and in Florida is increasing dramatically," Chesler said. "Well over half of our business is cremation."

A consultant for the city, GLE Associates, found that state and federal standards for crematories may become more strict. That's because studies pertaining to human cremation and air emissions have confirmed that mercury can be emitted during cremation.

Mercury may be emitted when remains with silver amalgam dental fillings are cremated, although the use of such fillings is on the decline.

Crematories, which are monitored by the county annually, typically emit carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulates.

Peter Hessling, air quality division director for Pinellas County, said small amounts of those materials are actually emitted.

"What typically comes out is very minimal," Hessling said.

And Chesler said his company will be a good neighbor.

"The state of Florida and Pinellas County have established guidelines for limits to protect our employees and the public, and we operate under the guidelines they give us," Chesler said.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at lorri@sptimes.com or 727 445-4155.

[Last modified April 25, 2006, 01:08:16]