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Council hears plan to reclaim decades-old cemetery plots and limit sales to residents
Summary
Staff told the council Syracuse has a limited number of immediately available cemetery plots, plans to reclaim roughly 65–80 longtime unused plots under state statute, and will restrict sales during the shortage to city residents; expansion design is shovel-ready but unfunded.
Staff reported the city has very few immediately available cemetery plots and plans to start statutorily required reclamation notices this November for long-unused plots.
Preston (cemetery superintendent/staff) told the council the city currently has two adjacent unsold plots available and about 65–80 older plots that were sold decades ago but never used. He said the city previously amended its ordinance to allow reclaiming abandoned plots pursuant to state statute and will begin the notice process in November; the administrative work of identifying plots and relatives has largely been completed over the summer.
Given the short inventory, staff recommended—and the council agreed—to limit plot sales for the near term to residents with an immediate need (those with a recent death). Preston said several other area cemeteries follow that approach while the city addresses its shortage. He noted the city has a planned cemetery expansion that is designed and “shovel ready” but currently unfunded; the administration listed 2027 as the tentative target year for constructing the expansion if funding allows.
On funding, Preston said the city has competing capital needs—regional park construction and cemetery expansion—and expects to be able to fund only one in the near term. Staff said proceeds from a planned property sale (referred to in discussion as the hot-triangle property across from the Arts Academy) would fund expansion if realized. Preston also said the expansion design is complete and engineering is done, but the city remains “not fund ready.”
Ending: The council agreed to place the expansion item on the consent agenda at the next meeting and authorized staff to proceed with the plot-reclamation notice process in November. No vote was recorded; staff will return the expansion item for consent consideration.
