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Proposed Crematorium a Hot Issue for Council

Monday, 11 March 2013 11:17

Here's a morbid thought: Woodstock could be home to a new Crematorium. The city has sold a half-acre of industrial land to Woodstock Crematorium Inc. The owners are looking to set up a stand-along Crematorium in the Bysham Business Park, which would not be a funeral home, according to Development Commissioner Len Magyar. "There have been some changes in the act that governs crematoriums. Originally they had to be in cemeteries, and now they're permitted to be in different areas. In our view, it seems an industrial area is the most likely area." But not everyone is warming up to the idea of bodies being processed in a business park. City Councillor Deb Tait raised concern to council that the concept may scare away other potential businesses. "I didn't want to screw up the whole industrial park over half-an-acre. I'm concerned with the potential with what could come that we're not going to get because it's (Crematorium) there. From my understanding it takes quite a long time to get the license. I'd hate for that land to be sitting there and we can sell anything beside it because potential businesses realize what's going there and they don't want to build beside it." On the other hand, councillor Bill Bes believes it will be a benefit to the city. "This is a service we don't have in Woodstock and yet a lot of people are making this their first choice. I think it would be an opportunity for Woodstock to have that kind of service for people who live here." Council approved the land sale, for $32,500, by a vote of 5-2. But the company still must obtain provincial licensing, and come back to council for a zone change.

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