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Council approves zoning change to permit alkaline hydrolysis for funeral services
Summary
Montgomery County Council voted to approve Zoning Text Amendment 20-59 to allow alkaline hydrolysis (a decomposition process) as a land-use option; the council amended the definition to allow non-human remains, and staff noted state regulatory work is underway.
The Montgomery County Council on Sept. 30 approved Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 20-59, which adds land-use authorization for alkaline hydrolysis used in funeral and internment services. The Planning, Housing and Parks Committee recommended approval with one amendment; the council approved the measure by roll call vote, 11–0.
Chair Friedson, who led the committee review, said the amendment clarifies the new definition so the zoning text explicitly allows disposition processes for non-human remains in addition to human remains. "The new definition of alkaline hydrolysis specifies that cremation is for disposition of human remains. The ZTA, as a result, would unintentionally not allow for bridal creation [sic] cremation, for this similar process. And so we changed decomposition of a human body and eliminated references to humans, so that it could also be for animal family members as well," Friedson said.
Friedson told the council the committee held a public hearing on July 22 and a work session on Sept. 15, and that the committee’s recommendation was 3–0 in favor with the single amendment. Ms. Nadeau, a county staff member, said a draft of portions of the state regulation is available on the state website for review; Friedson emphasized that the county’s action provides only the land-use option and that the state will determine the regulatory standards governing the process.
The council approved the amendment on a roll-call vote. Clerk read the roll; the transcript records unanimous "yes" votes from the members present. The ZTA now opens county zoning to a land-use option for alkaline hydrolysis, while the Maryland state regulatory process will determine operational standards and permitting.
