A PLANNED expansion of a funeral home has left a neighborhood in chaos as residents say city authorities failed to protect their interests.
The McDonald Keohane Funeral Home in Weymouth, Massachusetts is getting a 5,500-square-foot addition, however, neighbors are calling the project “inappropriate.”
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The expansion will nearly double the size of the funeral home, however, several residents questioned how the zoning board approved the project.
Two council members previously voted against the project, but later changed their minds, despite the expansion’s specifications remaining the same.
“They haven’t changed anything,” said Shira Levine, a resident, The Patriot’s Ledger.
“This project is completely inappropriate… How could five people vote that this project will not be harmful to this quiet neighborhood? It’s impossible.”
After the first vote ended in a 3-2 decision, however, four votes were needed for approval.
The funeral home appealed the decision to the state Land Court and a second vote was taken.
A joint motion was filed by the funeral home and the city for another zoning board hearing.
After a third hearing, the zoning board voted unanimously to grant the funeral home a special permit for the project.
The addition will include a 200-person capacity ballroom that will be used for funerals or celebrations of life.
The plan will also add 16 outdoor parking spaces, 11 of which are in residential areas, and four parking spaces.
How did five people vote that this project will not harm this quiet neighborhood? It’s impossible
Shira Levine
An ordinance was adopted by the city council prohibiting the expansion of funeral homes into neighborhoods, however, McDonald Keohane had the plans shelved before the city council made the change.
Levine says a large event space behind the existing building and next to nearby homes will lead to a “huge” number of cars and people coming and going, which will be detrimental to the neighborhood.
“We are frustrated because we feel like Keohane could have built the addition out front but didn’t want to ruin the beautiful landscaping, but that’s not fair,” she said.
“They could do this project without ruining our neighborhood.”
Mayor Robert Hedlund and attorney Richard McLeod told residents they felt they were doing what was best for the neighborhood, Levine said.
However, she said city officials did everything residents were against, including having the funeral home’s main entrance on the south side of the building with a garage and parking spaces close to neighbors. houses.
Jeffery Tocchio, an attorney representing the funeral home, said the Keohane family evaluated several options and possible layouts for the expansion project.
He told the outlet that the approved plan resolves “long-standing issues with existing operations and transfers other uses of the site away from neighbors.”
McLeod said plans for the project initially called for adding a staircase to the funeral home’s entrance.
“Both parties have also agreed to conditions that will help monitor the operation of the funeral home,” he said.
One of the conditions for approval read: “The funeral home will continue to use the front entrance facing Main Street (Route 18) as primary access for guests.”
However, Levine said there were several discussions during the public hearing process where Tocchio said the south entrance would be the main entrance to the facility.
Mayor Hedlund called neighbors’ concerns “valid” and said the funeral home has operated at its current location for a long time and has rights.
“It’s up to the zoning appeals board to resolve the issues. Obviously, people are not happy with the decision, but that’s how the process worked,” Hedlund said.
“I’m not going to question the BZA on that. They are much more involved in the elements of the proposal and the process.”
The US Sun has reached out to McDonald Keohane Funeral Home for comment.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
