Richfield cemetery board weighs temporary restriction on West Richfield plot sales amid shortage concerns

The Richfield Village Cemetery Board on May 27 discussed a proposal to temporarily restrict sales of burial plots at West Richfield to immediate-need burials in response to limited remaining inventory and reports of speculative purchases. Board members reviewed an inventory snapshot and discussed routing non-urgent buyers to Fairview Cemetery until expansion decisions are finalized.

Board members described the proposed restriction as a measure to conserve scarce remaining plots. The board noted that some local policies—cited in discussion by comparison—limit purchases to a single plot per buyer. The board also discussed allowing the purchase of two adjacent full-burial plots so families can be interred next to one another, and described existing village resale rules under which the village buys back plots at the original price and exchanges are allowed with price differences paid by the buyer.

An approximate inventory was presented to illustrate the shortage: West Richfield was described as having about 60 in-ground plots, 23 niches and 27 crypts (including conversions); Fairview was described as having roughly 299 niches and about 967 in-ground plots. Board members said changes to sale rules could require approval by the village council and might be contentious; no formal motion or vote occurred. The board added the item to the June agenda for further review and possible referral to the council.

Next procedural steps noted in the meeting were further investigation of expansion planning and formal consideration at a future meeting before any sales restrictions would be enacted.