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Neighbors press Village of Waukesha to delay decision on proposed Arcadian Avenue crematorium
Summary
Residents across from the proposed Arcadian Avenue site urged the planning commission and village board to delay any final decision and asked for site-specific air-dispersion and odor studies; the commission tabled the zoning determination to August and requested building, operations and outreach details from the petitioner.
Residents and business owners pressed the Village of Waukesha on whether a standalone crematorium should be allowed at 22295 South 16 West (Arcadian Avenue), saying they fear odors, emissions and impacts on property values.
"This is a major land use decision with long term consequences for nearby residents," said Anthony Santomino, who gave his address and said he lives across the street from the proposed crematorium. Santomino urged the board not to make a final decision at the meeting and asked for a site-specific air dispersion and odor analysis covering worst-case conditions.
Several other neighbors described the emotional effect the operation would have on children who remember family activities in nearby buildings and said they worried about persistent odors and the storage of bodies on-site. "How is it going to be stored? Bodies are gonna be stored there for how long," said Emily Fryberg, who identified herself as a nearby resident and said small children have memories tied to the property.
The petitioner and vendor described equipment and safety measures. "The noise level of the retort in operation is around 70 to 75 decibels," said Jake Pardoon of Cremation Systems, identifying himself as the equipment supplier. Pardoon said emissions and filtration systems meet federal and state requirements, that the operation would be classified as a "small source emitter," and that the facility would include a 12-body cooler and a backup generator for cooler reliability.
Staff and commissioners pressed the petitioner for more detail before making a zoning determination. Sean (staff planner) reminded the panel that crematoriums are not listed uses in the I-1/industrial district, but that a catchall clause allows "other trades or industries of a restrictive nature" if the proposed location, building and plan of operation show no adverse effects. Legal counsel and commissioners said that if the use is permitted, site-plan and plan-of-operation approvals—subject to reasonable conditions—would follow.
Commissioners and several board members flagged specific items they want before any determination: a site-specific plan of operation and detailed building-improvement plans; a neighbor-outreach effort and documentation of responses; a site-specific odor and air-dispersion analysis addressing inversion and worst-case conditions; clearer plans for the cooler, body storage times and a backup generator; and evidence of routine annual inspections or an OEM maintenance- inspection regime.
"If the building is simply a metal shell today, show us what it's going to look like when you're done," one commissioner said. Commissioners also suggested the petitioner coordinate with the building inspector and provide a list of required upgrades so the commission can evaluate reasonable conditions.
The commissioners voted to table the use determination until the August meeting and asked the petitioner to return with the requested information and to meet with neighbors in the interim. No formal site-plan or operational approvals were granted at the meeting.
