Planning board backs cemetery special-use permit and recommends rezoning of large church parcel

The Grand Island Planning Board voted to recommend that the Town Board approve a special-use permit for a one-acre cemetery accessory to an existing church and to rezone the church—s large parcel from R-1D to R-1A.

The board—s planner introduced the item as agenda number three and explained the application involves two deeded parcels: a frontage parcel (Parcel B) and a larger rear parcel (Parcel A). Pastor Calvin Ben told the board the church intends to reserve one acre behind the barn as a cemetery and that the cemetery footprint is limited to that acre, not the entire 16-acre property. "It's only that one acre to be set aside for the cemetery," Pastor Calvin Ben said.

Why it matters: neighbors had expressed concern after receiving notice and feared the cemetery would occupy the entire frontage near Baseline Road. The applicant and staff clarified that the cemetery would be fenced and located in the rear 1-acre area and that any expanded cemetery use beyond that would require further approvals. The planning board concluded that recommending rezoning Parcel A from R-1D to R-1A would allow the church to pursue accessory buildings (a fellowship hall and classrooms) while the board and staff discussed which rezoning approach best limits future, unintended cemetery expansion.

Discussion and outcome: staff explained that cemeteries in town code require a special-use permit and noted a code ambiguity about accessory cemeteries on church property. After debate over whether to rezone only the rear acre or the full parcel, Speaker 2 moved to recommend the special-use permit to the town board; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board then voted to recommend rezoning Parcel A from R-1D to R-1A while leaving Parcel B unchanged. A board member noted the rezoning choice would affect future subdivision possibilities and that a fellowship hall next to the church could use frontage utility without enabling a broad cemetery expansion.

Clarifying details: the church currently reserves a one-acre cemetery area behind an existing barn; the larger parcel was described in the meeting as roughly 16 acres in total. The plan clarified the cemetery would be fenced; Pastor Ben said the one acre would take many generations to fill. Staff advised that special-use permit approval and rezoning are separate administrative steps: the special-use permit is required under the current code, and rezoning would be processed through the town board.

Next steps: the planning board will forward its recommendations to the Town Board for formal action on the special-use permit and the rezoning request. No Town Board decision was recorded in this meeting.