Nearly 200 residents crowded into Snellville City Hall on Monday night to voice concerns about a crematorium under construction near their homes.

Even city leaders said they didn't realize a business owner plans to open a crematory on heavily traveled U.S. 78 and on property zoned for office and professional use and backing up to homes. Now, it seems, it's too late to stop it.

Cremation Society of the South, which has locations in Marietta and Stockbridge, already has crews working toward an August opening for the crematory at the corner of U.S. 78 and Abington Drive in Snellville. City officials said because the city's zoning codes don't exclude crematoriums from the area, the city is powerless to stop the project.

City leaders weren't sure how the crowd would react to the controversy, so extra police were stationed at City Hall.

Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer also took some extra steps to keep things calm, immediately announcing some ground rules.

"We ask you to maintain some decorum," he told the standing-room only crowd. "It's going to be a long night."

"I ask for no public attacks, no name calling," he said to anyone who planned to speak. "We do have the press here. No calling out or shouting. We have some police here."

Resident Milus Maney urged the council to stop the crematorium, which borders his backyard.

"The planning director should have notified the property owners and mayor and council," he said.

The mayor said nothing could be done.

Councilwoman Kelly Kautz, who learned about the crematorium from residents and reporters, said she was upset that city planning department officials didn't inform the City Council about the project.

"At this stage, I don't know what the city can do," Kautz said.

Councilman Tod Warner, former chairman of the planning commission, said he has known since last year about the wording of the zoning ordinance that allows for a crematory.

"I'll take the heat on this one. This is my fault."

Warner said an attorney cautioned him on the loophole, but he never expected one to pop up.

But he also spread the blame.

"Shame on you," he told the crowd. "You never show up for the decisions that we have to make until they're in your backyard."

Kautz and Warner both said the crematory owner, Chris Nuzum, is a nice man. Several residents shouted: "Who cares!"

Kautz, president of Cremation Society of the South, has said he would be willing to build a fence, enhance landscaping and take other steps to appease residents. But he's not willing to go away.