The situation surrounding a proposed crematorium in Corner Brook is causing quite a stir among residents, but city council says its hands are tied.
The issue dates back five years ago when a funeral home applied to put such a facility in the middle of a residential neighborhood. It was denied at the time, but in May of last year the approval was finally granted.
Mayor Jim Parsons says it wasn’t approved in 2017 because the province, which regulates air quality, didn’t have the data to have an opinion on it. Now, the province has that data.
Parsons says they didn’t foresee any issues with the equipment, and it meets all air quality standards.
He says government regulates air quality, not the city, and they say it is fine so that’s why it was approved.
Kathy Peddle, a member of a citizens group opposed to the development, presents different data that shows the crematorium could be to the neighborhood’s detriment.
She says they have data from Health Canada and from the World Health Organization that shows a crematorium should never be built where people live.
Mayor Parsons notes that they have consulted with the city’s lawyer and they don’t have legal authority to overturn development approvals.