By AMEERAH CETAWAYO, The Bowling Green Daily News
Plans for a cemetery that would have carried natural or “green” burials were scrapped, for now, after growing opposition from neighbors and general concerns about the plans for the project surfaced.
Planner Daniel Faller said Oakland resident James Darrell Carrier, who sought a conditional use permit to establish a cemetery on agricultural-zoned land at Bristow Road and Sunnyside-Gott Road, withdrew his request Thursday night because the surveyor for the project could not attend the meeting.
Aron London, 22, who lives on Bethel Lane, said she supports Carrier’s plans for a traditional cemetery.
“We were all against it,” London said, until she and others found out that Carrier’s plans had changed.
London said Carrier met with her and about 12 neighbors Monday.
Carrier called previous mentions of green burials a “misunderstanding,” she said.
London said she saw more detailed plans for landscape and fencing bufferings for the property.
London and Nelson O’Dell, who also lives on Bethel Lane, said they drive by the property every day on their way to day care for their 2-year-old son, Riley.
Both said they had concerns the cemetery wouldn’t be fenced and would eventually take on an unsavory and unkempt appearance.
Last month Carrier’s request said the property was to be used for traditional burials and for “green” burials, which are characterized by burial without a steel or concrete vault, or upright tombstones and statues.
With green burials, bodies are not chemically preserved and are buried in biodegradable caskets without linings or metal ornamentation, or in shrouds, according to planning documents.
Carrier previously said green burials were more affordable for people who could not pay for an expensive funeral and the property would be used for burial only, without a funeral home or monument sales at the location.
Faller said Carrier is expected to come before the board of adjustments next month to present his request again for a traditional cemetery.