A moratorium on new funeral homes and crematoriums was put in place by City Council Tuesday night, a move that was made in order for the Planning Commission to review zoning laws on where the currently unregulated business can be located.
The moratorium–headed by 3rd District Councilmember Gary DeLong and supported by 2nd District Councilmember Suja Lowenthal and 9th District Councilmember Steve Neal–was largely sparked by the creation of Belmont Heights Funeral Center at 3501 E. 7th Street and its announced intention to install a crematorium in a neighborhood that what residents say is too close to homes.
As the first African-American female-owned funeral service business, Latasha Company, along with her business partner Jonathan Polk, opened the center last year as a unique space that the owner says is meant to resemble more of a home than a mortuary. When she opened her funeral center, Company said her plans included a crematorium, citing the need for more cremation services in Long Beach—an option that is becoming increasingly more popular.
According to DeLong, constituents were disturbed that the center was directly located next to residential homes and was built without any discretionary review from the Planning Commission due to nonexistent zoning laws regulating where and how crematoriums can operate.
Furthermore, some felt the center lacked the facilities to properly engage in what they do. Business owner and local real estate agent Michael Barber pointed out that the center, given its lack of a garage, were unloading caskets directly on the street, ultimately leading him to fear that body bags may be unloaded openly as well.
Will Snipes, homeowner at 710 Newport, discussed his ability to look into the center’s prep room from his own dining room while Dianne Sundstrum, president of the Belmont Heights Community Association cited her the fear in the release of toxins into the nearby area due to the cremation process.
“[I understand] that cremation is a fast-growing industry,” said Sundstrom to the Long Beach Post. “Our position is not to outlaw cremation in Long Beach but to ask the City to identify appropriate locations for such facilities.”
The moratorium will not directly affect the Belmont Heights Funeral Center itself but put a hold on all future businesses in order to analyze the best places for such operations. DeLong feels that “industrial zones” are more appropriate.
“From our point of view,” Sundstrum continued, “in reviewing the science and technology involved in operating a crematorium, it seems that industrial zones are the most appropriate locations for such facilities. Many cities in the US and Canada have implemented such zoning and land-use guidelines.”
Calls to all of the mortuaries within city limits found only one with an on-site crematorium, Stricklin Snively on Long Beach Blvd. near 20th St. All others said that they outsource their cremation services to family owned businesses outside of Long Beach.
Polk denied the existence of any “prep room” at the center and insisted to “come on by—we have nothing to hide.”
While the moratorium will be initially citywide, the council will reconvene in four weeks to see if the focus should be within a specific geographic sector.
Noah Kelly also contributed reports to this story.
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Moratorium against Mortuaries and Crematoriums in Long Beach by
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