Planning Commission Meeting Draws Large Crowd

It was a full house at Tuesday night's monthly Planning Commission meeting with the majority of the 50+ seats filled at City Hall.

Three of the five Planning Commissioners were present, Matt Houser, Mark Middleton and Alan Kaplan.

The majority came in response to Crowell Brothers Funeral Home's request for a special use permit to add a crematory to its premises. The family-owned funeral home has been in operation since 1985.

Jeff Crowell, one of the owners, said nearly 35 percent of his business in 2012 was for cremation services. He said in the first quarter of this year 50 percent of the funerals have been cremation services.

"We're asking to add this service to serve the families," said Crowell who added that it was extremely stressful for families to have to deal with the idea that their loved one's remains would have to be transferred off site to be cremated.

Residents sited concerns over the possibility of unknown health issues to the possible negative economic impact in terms of the loss property value.

"We're concerned, whether real or not, that the perception of the real estate surrounding the crematory would lower the value of our homes," said one Berkeley Chase homeowner.

Other homeowners expressed concern over pollution and the lack of state regulation of crematories.

"It boils down to perception," said one Avocet homeowner who had just recently purchased her home. "We probably would not have purchased our home if we knew there was a crematory there."

Representatives for the funeral home presented their side which included the fact that the crematory would be constructed inside the existing funeral home and assurances that the cremation equipment would not emit any visible emissions or odors.

"Crematories are controlled and regulated by the Georgia Board of Funeral Services," said Gerald Davidson, Jr., an attorney representing Crowell Brothers.

Davidson pointed out during his presentation that other funeral homes located in other Gwinnett cities operate next to libraries, restaurants and subdivisions.

He provided a chart that compared pollutant emissions from various businesses including residential fireplaces, diesel trucks and restaurants cooking 100 hamburgers per hour which far exceeded the emission rate of a crematory.

Planning Commission member Matt Houser acknowledged it was "a very difficult case," siting how much was not understood on emissions of crematories.

Middleton pointed out the need "to balance the business owners rights. "As we look at health concerns we need to balance this with the community's need for this service," he said.

Middleton made a motion to vote to allow the request, however, Houser and Kaplan voted against the request and it was denied 2-1. It will go before the City Council on May 7 for a decision.

Two other cases were heard Tuesday night.

Chase Bank, which has submitted plans to build a branch on the corner of Peachtree Parkway and Peachtree Corners Circle, requested a condition be modified to allow for four drive-thru lanes which would require a 47-foot wide driveway.

The three commissioners voted in favor of the request and it passed 3-0

The third request was the approval of building elevations for a retail space to be developed on 6.37 acres surrounding the Chase Bank building. Lee Tucker an attorney representing Fuqua Development, LP told the commission that the new plans would be "compatible with The Forum but would have its own distinct look."

After much debate, Houser made a motion to approve, Middleton seconded the motion and Kaplan abstained, it passed 2-0.

Keep up with what's going on around town - sign up for the free Peachtree Corners Patch newsletter for news, events, information and more.