Ellisville board approves crematory at Chandler Funeral Home and extended anniversary banners; staff recommended approval

The Ellisville Board of Zoning Appeals voted May 13 to approve variances enabling Chandler Funeral Home to install a crematory unit at a site described in the staff packet and to display anniversary banners for an extended period.

Staff presented case BZA26-4, saying the petition sought (1) a development-standards variance to allow temporary banners for six months—longer than the UDO’s 30-day consecutive limit—and (2) use variances to permit a crematory in a flood‑plain overlay district and to allow crematory services in a Commercial One zoning district. In staff materials the subject parcel for the crematory was listed as 102 East Fine Street; during discussion a board member corrected that the banner location is on the funeral home at 203 East Temperance and that the crematory petition referenced 102 East Vine, producing inconsistent address references in the record.

Staff told the board the unit would be placed inside an existing outbuilding roughly 155 feet from the funeral home, would not be permanently affixed, and weighs about 15,500 pounds. Staff said the parcel is 0.22 acres (9,583 square feet) and noted that crematories are permitted by special exception in Industrial One zoning but not by right in Commercial One or flood‑plain overlay districts. Staff reviewed the board’s six decision criteria—general welfare, adjacent property, practical difficulty, comprehensive plan compliance, financial hardship and compliance with other codes—and recommended approval of the banner and use variances.

Chandler Funeral Home representatives, identified in the record as the petitioner, said the banner is to mark the business’s 50th anniversary and that they expect to display two banners and likely use fewer than the full six months. A company representative showed photos and said the crematory’s vent stack will protrude through the roof but that the unit makes little noise and produces no noticeable odors. "There's no odors," one representative said. Jake, identified as a crematory company representative, described the unit as running quietly and noted its interior is lined with fire brick; he also said similar units operate in other local funeral facilities without reported problems.

Board members asked whether state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permits might be required. Staff replied the board’s approval would allow the petitioner to pursue town construction and floodway permits and that the town determination could trigger DNR review; staff emphasized that the unit not being permanently attached was important for permitting.

A motion to approve the banner variance carried on a roll call showing three yes votes (David Drake, Pat Wesowski and Caleb Plameumber). The board then separately approved allowing the crematory in the flood‑plain overlay district and approving crematory operations in the Commercial One zoning district; those motions were recorded with the same three yes votes and each motion carried. The transcript does not record the names of the individual movers and seconders for the motions.

Planning staff noted the board’s next meeting is scheduled for June 10. No public commenters spoke on the item during the meeting.