Planning Board OKs Crematorium at Grissom's Mortuary

The Alameda County Planning Commission approved a petition to allow a cremation unit to be located within on Lewelling Boulevard during Tuesday's public hearing.

The approval comes nearly eight months after the forbidding cremations within 300 feet of existing residences and school.

Several being placed so close to schools, homes, and businesses. They were concerned about the health and environmental effects the community could potentially face.

However, owner Lisa Wyrabkiewicz and the Redevelopment Agency's planning director Bill Lambert assured them and the commissioners that research and studies over the past year have shown no such negative impact.

The project description explains that the crematory unit will be located within the mortuary's existing garage and will conduct up to 500 cremations per year.

An initial study, required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), was conducted to determine potential effects on the environment. Its results indicated a "less than significant impact" and has been available for public review at the county's planning department since Aug. 19.

Neighbors wishing to appeal the decision to the board of supervisors now have 10 days to do so. If no appeals are filed or they are denied, Wyrabkiewicz will then move on to obtain a building permit.

__________________________________________________

Live Blog from Planning Commission Meeting:

6:54 p.m. — The commissioners unanimously voted in favor of the crematorium, which was followed by a loud clap from Wyrabkiewicz.

6:52 p.m. — Board member Jacob suggested cypress trees be added.

6:50 p.m. — Orduna said the only addtions to the building would really be the exhaust and the equipment. It would all be raised above flood levels.

6:48 p.m. — Commissioner Jacob asked about changes/additions to the building and how it would prevent the building from possible flooding from the nearby creek and how it would affect the footprint of the building.

6:41 p.m. — Owner of Grissom's Mortuary, Lisa Wyrabkiewicz, claimed that the equipment would automatically shut down if it begins to overheat. She also said there is a plan in place by hazardous materials crews and the fire departments. Access to lock boxes and keys will be made available to them in case an emergency occurs.

She said the mortuary is required to provide logs of operation to any agency officials who may ask for them at any time. She added that nothing has been proven indicating that air quality would be impacted negatively by the cremations.

By law, state-licensed training would be provided to cremation and equipment operators and manufacturers. She said the state requires crematorium managers to update their licenses yearly.

6:40 p.m. — Bill Lambert, assistant director at the Redevelopment Agency, said after three years of planning and research on all of this, it should be time to approve the proposal. He said that the crematorium would have less of a negative impact than a hamburger stand.

6:38 p.m. — A male speaker brought up the possibility of the crematorium being responsibly for decreasing property values. He suggested that the crematorium be placed directly or closer to a cemetery—away from a busy neighborhood.

6:35 p.m. — A Lewelling Boulevard resident expressed concern about the crematorium's location in such a dense area where schools, residences and businesses are located. She also brought up odorless and colorless chemicals that may be released and that there are no monitoring devices that can really measure their emissions accurately.

6:31 p.m. — One woman questioned who will keep records of temperatures and monitor any violations that may take place. She was concerned about chemicals and how that may affect children, especially those with asthma.

6:30 p.m. — Speakers present. Held at three minutes each.

6:27 p.m. — Grissom's claims the use will not gain customers. Currently they use a crematorium unit in Fremont to provide current customers with this service. They said the crematorium will not be a priority use, only an "accessory" to the mortuary.

6:24 p.m. — Orduna said the only height-wise addition that will be put in place is an exhaust stack, which will be six feet taller than the current chimney. It will go at the back of the building, hidden from Lewelling Boulevard. It would be seen as a two-story portion of the building. He also mentioned the floor area was suggested to be raised to prevent equipment from possible flood damage.

6:21 p.m. — Orduna went over urban land use and how it is located near San Lorenzo Creek. The use will be located in the existing structure, without any add-ons. The unit will be self-contained (no additional flooring, etc.). The Deptartment of Fish and Game said they'd be "OK" with no impacts to the San Lorenzo Creek with this facility.

6:18 p.m. — Senior Planner Rodrigo Orduna went over language changes made over the past year regarding the declaration. He said the crematorium will not run overnight between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. in order to avoid disrupting neighboring residents.

6:17 p.m. — Commissioners announced that Grissom's Mortuary would be discussed first on the agenda. One county planner talked about initial response to Grissom's when owners asked about adding a crematorium to their facility. One year ago, he said they already finalized the plans for a conditional use permit. Said commission members are "here for actual project."

6:14 p.m. — Meeting called to order. Commissioners reported a field trip they took to Grissom's Mortuary earlier this afternoon. No comments made regarding the field trip.

6 p.m. — Public hearing room (224 W. Winton Ave., Hayward) is filled with over 20 people.