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San Joaquin County planning commission approves expansion of Cherokee Memorial Park cemetery
Summary
The San Joaquin County Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to expand Cherokee Memorial Park, permitting a 3,574-plot cemetery on about 2.94 acres in two phases; phase two is restricted by an existing Williamson Act contract that expires Dec. 21, 2025.
The San Joaquin County Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve Conditional Use Permit PA 2400218, allowing Cherokee Memorial Park to expand by 3,574 burial plots on a 2.94-acre footprint in two phases.
Senior Planner Giuseppe Sanfilippo told the commission the proposal would develop the cemetery in two phases over five years, add on-site access roads and provide 33 parking spaces. He said no buildings are proposed and that an existing telecommunications tower within the phase 1 area will remain in operation and is not part of the project.
The proposal calls for the cemetery to operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. March through October and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. November through February. Staff said the applicant anticipates an average of about 20 visitors per day and expects burial services on roughly three days per week with approximately 80 participants at a typical service.
Joe Murphy, representing the applicant Dylan & Murphy, said the applicant agreed with the recommended conditions of approval. "We're in complete agreement with the proposed conditions of approval," Murphy said.
Staff noted a portion of the site proposed for phase 2 is under an active Williamson Act contract (WA-93-0008). The property owner filed a notice of nonrenewal in February 2015; staff recommended and the commission included a condition preventing development of phase 2 until the parcel is no longer under contract, which staff said will occur on Dec. 21, 2025.
The site is located on the east side of North Beckman Road, south of East Kettleman Lane in Lodi, adjacent to two existing cemetery facilities. Staff said one of the adjacent cemeteries is under the same ownership and that the project could operate as either an expansion of that facility or as a standalone cemetery.
After no public opposition at the hearing, a commissioner moved to accept the application; the motion was seconded and Commissioners Tuutubukhi, Melas, Roesdahler, Singh and Hernandez voted yes, producing a 5-0 approval.
The commission's agenda item record and conditions of approval list required parking and other standard measures; staff stated the required parking is included in the conditions. The applicant and staff answered brief clarifying questions from commissioners before the vote.
The commission chair closed the meeting after announcing the approval and noted upcoming items to be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors, including previously heard text amendments and an appeal of a minor subdivision variance.
