Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-03-04-019 — Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery

Request: Special Exception in A-1 (agricultural) zone to construct a 3,500 sq. ft. crematorium as an ancillary use to existing cemetery and funeral home. (NOTE: This request is identical to the request approved by the Board of County Commissioners on 11/4/97. The applicant obtained the required building permit but it to expired on 11/4/98. Therefore, another special exception approval is required).

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The Staff Report and Recommendation is located on Page______. This is the same request as the one approved by the Board of County Commissioners on November 4, 1997. That approval expired which required the applicant to re-apply for the use. The applicant is proposing a 3,500 sq. ft. cremation building adjacent to the existing funeral home. The use will obtain all required environmental permits. The applicant gave an overview of the request, including a description of how the cremations are conducted. He informed the BZA that cremations are on the rise and they are trying to serve that ever-increasing market. A neighbor to the west spoke in opposition. His only concern was the timing of the bells and chimes. The applicant and the neighbor had agreed on the playing times of the chimes. However, the neighbor wanted the BZA to make these playing times part of this request. The BZA and the applicant agreed to impose a new condition that addressed the bells and chimes. Staff concluded the conditions imposed will minimize any adverse impacts. The BZA agreed.