SEBASTIAN – Construction of a larger crematorium at Seawinds Funeral Home in Sebastian is on hold after the nearby Elks Lodge filed an appeal challenging the business’s expansion plans.
The Sebastian City Council is expected to hear on March 10 the appeal and decide whether the funeral home can indeed proceed with rebuilding.
Councilman Eugene Wolff brought up the matter at a council meeting earlier this month, asking if there is anything the council can do to address the health and safety concerns he has been hearing from residents regarding the approved expansion.
He did not know the expansion plans had been appealed until City Attorney Richard Ginsburg informed him and the rest of council that they need to be careful what they say about the project until it comes before them in the appeal process.
Ginsburg said that any letters, e-mails or phone calls about the expansion need to be redirected to the Planning and Zoning department to “ensure you will be neutral arbiters.”
“I had no idea,” Wolff said.
Jan King, the city’s planning and zoning manager, said that she has not seen any letters or correspondence from the city council since the early February meeting.
King said it is rare that the city has an appeal of a site plan modification, the last one being three or four years ago.
She said the Elks Lodge’s appeal does not list any justification for the appeal, though it is not necessary to have.
Members of the public are expected to be able to address the crematorium’s expansion at the March 10 city council meeting, though they might be required to stick to the issues raised at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting rather than bringing up new concerns, King said.
In the meantime, Young’s requested building permit for the expanded facility is still working its way through the review process. Issuance of the permit, however, will be held up until the appeal is decided, according to King. That way, if the appeal is denied, Young would be able to get his permit shortly thereafter – if the appeal stands, the permit won’t be issued.
Young had expected to start construction of the larger facility sometime in March before the appeal was filed.
The planning commission approved the crematorium’s expansion with conditions – taking extra fire precautions and adding more landscaping to the site.