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DEL.ICIO.USCrematory opponents all smoke
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I didn’t see the body. It had already been loaded into the cremation chamber.
By the end of the three-hour process, temperatures would top 1,600 degrees. Heat engulfed the entire building, so Chris Nuzum, owner and president of Cremation Society of the South, and I stepped into the chapel.
On Wednesday, the Badie Tour did what Nuzum has asked Snellville city officials and its residents to do: Have a look-see at his Marietta facility off Franklin Road.
Nuzum and his partners find themselves steeped in Snellville stew. They want to operate a crematory in a former house at the corner of Abington Drive and U.S. 78. It’s zoned “Office Professional,” a city classification that allows the operation of funeral homes, mortuaries and “crematoria” — the technical term for crematory.
Residents whose homes back up against the site are enraged — and quite imaginative. They envision dead bodies being unloaded from the back of hearses at all hours. Ashes will spew from the smokestack, coating cars and homes. Potent toxins will be emitted.
This is how crazy things have gotten: A woman recently called Snellville police to report that smoke was bellowing from the smokestack. Only one problem: The facility hasn’t opened yet and may not do so for a while.
This week, Mayor Pro Tem Warren Auld and Councilwoman Kelly Kautz expressed worries about the business’ environmental impact.
Then on Tuesday, City Manager Russell Treadway announced plans to do some research on crematories as they relate to health issues.
He may not be privy to some information that Nuzum has provided council members via e-mail and shared with me.
I won’t delve into mercury emissions, pounds and percentages, but suffice it to say the Environmental Protection Agency isn’t losing sleep over crematory toxins.
Nuzum appears willing to work with Snellville City Hall and its residents. He encased the smokestack in vinyl, among other adjustments. He plans to use a company van instead of a hearse to transport bodies.
He’s offered to attend a question-and-answer session. He even offered to rent travel buses to transport residents to his Marietta site.
Of course, he’s adhered to city zoning law.
“I feel like I have been given a ticket for speeding because I did the speed limit,” said Nuzum, who spent $250,000 on renovations. “This business is being persecuted by people who don’t want to learn more about it.”
Instead of posturing, city leaders should tell the riled residents there isn’t much government can do to stop a business located in the proper zoning classification. Tell them they’ll re-tool the existing ordinance as it relates to crematories so this kind of pickle never happens again.
I feel bad for the residents, but at least this isn’t a Love Shack. Besides, they should be ticked off at City Hall, not Nuzum.
“Everybody keeps saying we’re in a neighborhood in Snellville,” he told me. “If that’s the case, this neighborhood has a Dunkin’ Donuts in it and an attorney’s office.”
In Marietta, a condo unit is right next door to Nuzum’s business. Another one is across the street. Up the road is a Crowne Plaza Hotel, not to mention an office complex and a few restaurants.
When the crematory was operating Wednesday, I didn’t smell anything or see any smoke. Nuzum said one might see smoke — not ashes — from a crematory smokestack in the winter due to heat exchange.
After the cremation process is complete, the remains are scooped into a holding bin, then transferred to a spinner for further refining.
The ivory-colored by-product is placed in a container, or urn, along with a stainless-steel tag that identifies the body. It costs $795 to cremate a body. (Cremation Society of the South takes fingerprints and uses other measures to track and identify bodies.)
“Death is disconcerting to all people,” Nuzum said. “It’s a difficult subject to discuss, but it’s good to know that businesses exist to take care of families.”
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail:rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Bruce Wilcox
July 31, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
Should I start complaining because the church down the street holds funeral services?
If he had the approval of Snellvile in the first place, I feel if they want to change the law after the fact fine, just pay the damages and compensation for the hassles.
I live in unincorporated Gwinnett, heck, they could care less what hapopens around here, I’ll sell you my place and maybe offer up a few customers.
By Kermit
July 31, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
Typical NIMBY-idiots. Lorraine Green is their patron saint.
By can't wait
August 1, 2008 12:14 AM | Link to this
I personally can’t wait for this business to get the green light to open. What a bunch of babies these neighbors are. Get over it! The owner of the business has followed all of the rules.
I think we should all picket in support of the business in the parking lot. We’ll get gurneys and put dummies on them covered in sheets with red stains. Then we’ll have the owner burn a bunch of paper to create large plumes of black smoke so we can all sit back and and laugh at the horrified looks of the neighbors.
Gwinnett is Great!
By Dennis
August 1, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this
Rick; I want to thank you for writing an honest assessment of this issue.
By Steve
August 1, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
Once the residents are “AGNYST” it, there is nothing you can do to change their minds. Logic and rationality are rarely used once emotions take over. It’s really to bad that it happens that way, but its a fact of life that is relevant to many situations.
By Tad G.
August 1, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Rick, Thank you for properly reporting the facts regarding this situation. I can understand the homeowners initial angst but with just a little education about this business I think they will see it is a pretty good business to have as a neighbor.
As you have properly stated there are much worse business neighbors that could be moving in. as a matter of fact I would trade the Chinese restaurant down the street from my house with the crematory any day. Unfortunately in the summer the dumpster for the restaurant gets rather ripe before pick-up day.
By themomma
August 1, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
You know, as a resident of Snellville this is par for the course!!! The homeowners that are petrified are probably all members of First Baptist Snellville. Go ask them if they have a problem with following the book, the Bible, which states ashes to ashes, dust to dust! Once again, the glorious South Gwinnett region showing their own stupidity and lack of concern for the good of the community. Little Melissa that is running the neighbor brigade isn’t even a homeowner!!! Her family owns the Hartsfield home! Every last one of them were not present at the town hall meeting when the original zoning was switched to professional! They refused to be involved and see what could possibly go in and now they are pitching a fit! Shut up, learn from and be smarter the next time! If you bought your house over there in the last 20 years you knew that whole part of 78 was going commercial no matter what!!!! Shut up, sit down, hold on, the cavalry is here to remind you in Snellville just how dumb you are!
By Kerry Catlin
August 1, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
They should open an Italian Trattoria next to the Crematoria. that way, when a made wise guy rubs someone out, (like in the Godfather), they can get rid of the body right there, and no one’s the wiser, (grease a few palms and everybody wins).
Someone rats out this plan and maybe they dont feel so good.
By T
August 1, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Rick, this is an excellent article.
When I first heard of the crematory I too had bad images popping into my head.
You taught me a few things here and I really appreciate it.
It’s also very refreshing to read comments that stick to the subject.
By LT5000
August 1, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Will the last person to leave the AJC please tell Badie that there hasn’t been a Recession?
He definitely seems more intersted in going out with a whimper instead of a bang.
Surely the rash of illegals involved in drug related kidnappings here in Gwinnett is a much more pressing story than crematoriums.
Or he could write an article about the Obamessiah stiffing the wounded US soldiers at Landstuhl or handing out his “prayer” to the media before placing it in the Western Wall.
And the AJC wonders why it’s circualtion keeps plummeting.
LT5000
By Honest_Abe
August 1, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
Finally RICK! Someone who tells the truth unlike the politicians in Snellville! I can’t wait for Auld to be Mayor so that we hear more backpeddling. Is he also in charge of the war in Iraq? I guess that would make Kautz Condi Rice and Treadway Carl Rove? He is going to get Snellville sued just to say the Judge made him give the permits to these guys. Just admit that the city screwed up and save the money. Heck, put a stockage fence around this place so those abington kids can stay out of the psychatrist’s office.
By Finally - Some Sanity
August 2, 2008 2:31 AM | Link to this
Has anyone noticed you can’t even see the backyard of the crematoria from Abilene Trail for all the trees? If the residents are so concerned about how surrounding businesses affect property values, why have we never heard any complaints about the oh so classy red and yellow lawyer’s sign on the same corner? Talk about an eyesore and a blight on the neighborhood!
By Oh Yeah!!!
August 2, 2008 6:23 AM | Link to this
If you want to see what might be bringing down any property values, drive passed the crematory (on Abington-not 78) and check out near the dead end sign………………..
By FYI
August 2, 2008 6:52 AM | Link to this
Rick: Why don’t you tour the site in Snellville, you would probably get to see the body, the small house and 1/2 acre lot without a chapel as you mention in the Marietta facility.
As far as your point residents are quite imaginative. Do some research instead of the lax rules of the EPA for cremotariums.
As for the lady who called the police, the crematorium was running that day, maybe a trial run, a fluke, but, nevertheless it was running in the middle of the night, even though he is not supposed to be open yet. Not only was there smoke, there was an odor. The EPA does regulate smoke.
Maybe you should delve into mercury emissions, google it and see what you get. Unfortunately the EPA doesn’t regulate crematories like they should. So, your right they aren’t losing sleep.
If you notice crematories are usually located alongside funeral homes and cemetaries with acreage, not in subdivisions on 1/2 acre lots.
Nuzum wasn’t allowed to open a crematory in Alpharetta, after a traffic study was done. They were smart enough to discourage his business.
As for Nuzum working with residents and City Hall. He got a bargain basement price on the house and slipped right on in. He’s not stupid, he doesn’t have a crematory in his own yard. Why does he think anyone else would want one in their backyards?
Also, the chimney is not encased in brick, he has cheap siding on it.
He has not adhered to State and City zoning laws, he has inadequate parking that is required, which could prove to completely block the intersection for the subdivision if he has more than one vehicle at a time.
He IS in a neighborhood, the property is within feet of at least a dozen or more homes, the Dunkin Donuts is across 78 in a shopping center. The lawyer’s office is in a house zoned Office and Professional.
How many acres does he have at his Marietta location? I bet it’s more than 1/2 acre.
Your right he is a cut rate $795 operation. Snellville has three nice funeral homes with crematories that residents use. We don’t need his little cut rate operation in our backyards.
No one has a problem with decent funeral home businesses who have nice facilities on acreage. We appreciate and respect them. This business doesn’t qualify.
You might want to correct the many errors in your article Mr. Rick Badie.
By Regular Joe
August 2, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this
“And the AJC wonders why it’s circualtion keeps plummeting.”
circualtion?
dictionary.com
By The New Rugby
August 2, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
They should open an Italian Trattoria next to the Crematoria. that way, when a made wise guy rubs someone out, (like in the Godfather), they can get rid of the body right there, and no one’s the wiser, (grease a few palms and everybody wins).
Someone rats out this plan and maybe they dont feel so good
By Honest_Abe
August 2, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
FUNNY FYI! Now it’s the EPA’s fault. Yep, those idiots won’t let us puppet them like Snellville City Hall… HA! HA! HA! You are really showing how smart you are now. Next thing you know you will start blaming that the grass is a a blade width too high and start calling the National Association of the Trailer Park Grass Police. Why don’t you worry about all of those RENTAL HOMES in Abington Trailer Park? It looks like there are only two nice homes in that Double Wide Trash Haven you have there!
Decent funeral homes? Are there any? Aren’t they all related to Used Car Dealerships?
From the looks of that Trailer Park, those people need a break on the price when they die since they can’t put any money in their homes when they are alive. HA HA HA HA. You are so LAME.
By Honest_Abe
August 2, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
FUNNY FYI! Now it’s the EPA’s fault. Yep, those idiots won’t let us puppet them like Snellville City Hall… HA! HA! HA! You are really showing how smart you are now. Next thing you know you will start blaming that the grass is a a blade width too high and start calling the National Association of the Trailer Park Grass Police. Why don’t you worry about all of those RENTAL HOMES in Abington Trailer Park? It looks like there are only two nice homes in that Double Wide Trash Haven you have there!
Decent funeral homes? Are there any? Aren’t they all related to Used Car Dealerships?
From the looks of that Trailer Park, those people need a break on the price when they die since they can’t put any money in their homes when they are alive. HA HA HA HA. You are so LAME.
By THE TRUTH
August 2, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
I see that FYI wrote: If you notice crematories are usually located alongside funeral homes and cemetaries with acreage, not in subdivisions on 1/2 acre lots.
Would it be different if this guy bought the two houses next door for a funeral home and crematory operation like you state above?
So you are saying if the crematoria is on a big lot the Mercury and Smoke are not a problem?
Which issue are you going to stand on? The size of the lot or the emissions or the parking? You are confusing me with your lack of position. Which is it?
It is apparent you are confused on this issue. Rick said it right: Opponents all S M O K E!
Peace!
By Mark
August 2, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
the truth You retarded or something?
Hasn’t Susan Gast hit this subject already? Badie, go back to driving a bread truck.
By FYI
August 2, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Honest Abe and The Truth:
You can’t seem to master that POST key and you have the audacity to question someone else’s intelligence. Your intelligence scares me, how about we just agree to disagree.
Hope you guys have a great laugh and maybe Mr. Nuzum will set up shop in your backyard and then we can all have a good laugh.
Have a great day and do go easy on that POST button.
By Baseball Wrap
August 2, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
They should open an Italian Trattoria next to the Crematoria. that way, when a made wise guy rubs someone out, (like in the Godfather), they can get rid of the body right there, and no one’s the wiser, (grease a few palms and everybody wins).
Someone rats out this plan and maybe they dont feel so good
By FYI
August 3, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
When you aren’t banging on the POST key, you are rewriting your stuff with different aliases. very interesting.
By Party Pooper
August 4, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
I agree with Rick. This is ridiculous. I live in the neighborhood and I don’t give a rat’s a@$ about the crematory. Where were these people when the building looked like crap?
They are concerned with emissions? What about all the emissions from living so close to HWY 78?
They worry their property value will go down? How many people do you know that want to live next to a busy highway with all the vehicle emissions and road noise?
The worry about mercury? Mercury is released only if the body had dental filings containing the metal. Do they know for certain what percentage of bodies will have such filings?
Some people had no idea about this issue until Liberty Community Management managing the subdivision across the street started sending mass emails to all the residents asking them to protest.
By n
August 11, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this
Snellville City Council Meeting tonight, 8/11/08, 7:30 pm, city hall, regarding crematory, be there.