A proposal to build a crematorium in Smithers will not be going ahead, at least not at the proposed location.
Last month, Council gave second reading to a proposal which would amend a zoning bylaw’s text to allow a crematorium.
That crematorium was planned to be built at 3844 Henry Road, but that brought strong opposition from the community.
A public hearing held last month saw dozens of residents speak out against the proposal, and more than 70 supporters sign a petition against it.
Their primary concerns surrounded aesthetics, noise and smell, water and waste management issues, and air quality.
While Council disagreed that those would be issues, after a report from Northern Health, the public response was too great.
They decided that, in this era, communities need to feel like communities, and that the change would be unfair, given the current zoning.
Ultimately, the application was denied, but Council voted to continue working with the proponent to find another location.
Smithers Mayor Gladys Atrill noted that, while most community members seem to agree that a crematorium is a needed service, nobody wants it near them.
Comments