At the April 24 Lloyd Planning Board meeting the public voiced their opposition to a proposed Pet Crematorium at 3523 and 3525 Route 9W. This is in very close proximity to the Highland Elementary School.

 

At the meeting Justin Banbia stated that he is the owner of the property, however, the Ulster County Parcel Viewer lists Radha Madhav Limited from Newburgh, as the owner of record.

 

Banbia described this project as a small, family-owned business rather than a large corporate crematorium. He said urns and other products for their pets will be available to the public, “but it is my intention that this business will be able to offer assistance in the bereavement process with families as they go through the loss of a pet.”

 

Banbia said the Department of Environmental Conservation [DEC] reviewed his proposed project, “and they believe it is all acceptable and they have signed off on it.”

 

Nathan Blackstop, of the U.S. Cremation Equipment in Orlando, Florida, spoke on behalf of Banbia and his project. He said Banbia would be using one of his company’s units and that it meets all New York State requirements for emissions. He said modern units are 99% efficient, have low profile stacks with no visible emissions or odor under normal operating conditions. He pointed out that New York and California are two of the most stringent states in the country to approve crematories.  

 

Blackstop said his company’s equipment emits far less than a hamburger restaurant or a school bus. He said the automated and computer controlled units use a two-stage combustion process. A deceased pet is placed in a case in the primary chamber and the doors are closed and securely sealed. A flame then starts and the cremation case begins to combust. The smoke and gases go into a secondary afterburner chamber for a second burning. He said whatever is left then exits the unit through a refractory lined stack; it is 4 inches of concrete lining a carbon steel stack, which rises about four feet above the opening in the roof.

 

During public comment, resident and former planning board member, Sal Cuciti, said he agreed with resident Bruce Epperson, who previously appeared before the Planning Board, stating that according to Sec. 100-12 of the town code, crematoriums are not an allowable use anywhere in the Town of Lloyd. Cuciti questioned the determination made by Building Department Director Dave Barton, characterizing this project as a Service Business, which is what allowed it to move forward before the Planning Board.

 

“My rhetorical question is a slaughter house a service? Can you put a slaughter house next to your Elementary school?” Cuciti asked.

 

Cuciti said the EPA’s website [EPA.gov] lists what is typically emitted by cremation of human and animal tissues such as lead, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, arsenic, benzopyrene, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride and mercury.    

 

Cuciti said the National Institute of Health determined that exposure to air pollution is linked to lower academic achievement and behavioral problems in children.

 

“To me you can’t ask for a worse spot; nobody is against crematoriums in general, but at this location, it’s reckless to do that,” he said.

 

Cuciti pointed out that the town code states that the Planning Board, “can only consider site plan approval if you know that it agrees with all the zoning laws of the Town of Lloyd. I would say this doesn’t work [and] this isn’t in the best interest of the community.”  

 

Meghan Bianco said in the coming year she will have two children at the Elementary School and that a crematorium so close to the school, “fundamentally contradicts local ordinances.” She pointed out that the town’s zoning code states that no visible emissions are permissible beyond a property’s borders. She also noted that the applicant is not even proficient in operating a facility like this, “and has struggled to provide satisfactory answers regarding critical aspects of the project.”

 

Meghan Quinn lives near the proposed project and has a daughter in kindergarten.

 

“I just can’t believe that this is being considered. Some of the red flags I see are repeatedly saying no visible smoke or emissions [but] there are a lot of toxins and pollution that are not visible. We have children sitting there in the school with open windows and their bodies are more vulnerable to pollutants,” she said.

 

Dave McFay pointed that not only is the proposed project near a school but it is also near the village park, adjacent to the hamlet and next to baseball and soccer fields where children spend their weekends.

 

Lacy McFay, with a child in her arms, told the Planning Board that she is a mother of three and is a child and family therapist.

 

“I am just stunned that we’re even having this conversation.” She noted that Planning Board meeting minutes do not contain anything about the psychological impacts to children from this project.

 

Kim Goodall, who has children in the Elementary School, said her issue is with the location of the proposed project, “where children play, where they learn and where they’re growing.” She said the developer’s consultant admitted that the process is not completely free of emissions, “so there’s going to be something in the air and that is what is concerning.” She noted that children’s lungs are not fully developed until they are 8 years old and continue into adolescence and this should be considered.

 

Kim Bodendorf said this proposed project is, “plucked right next to the hub of young children in our town and I am highly against this.”

 

Another resident of nearby Woodside Place, said, “if we hadn’t moved here yet and we heard there was a crematorium right next to the school we would have looked elsewhere. She said this project would be be detrimental to the value of the community, the school district and to the pride of the town.

 

Chairmen Scott McCarthy stressed that the Planing Board is there to listen to the concerns of the public and they are not going to make a predetermined decision.

 

“Nothing is given and we determine it the proper way,” he insisted.

 

The Planning Board kept the public hearing open and will wait until the Zoning Board of Appeals hears a challenge to Building Department Director Dave Barton’s determination that this proposed project is a Service Use business and is allowed in the General Business district. That meeting is scheduled for 7pm on May 8 at the Town Hall, 12 Church St, Highland.