Natural cemetery OK’d in east Bibb
By Linda S. Morris - lmorris@macon.com
Owners and supporters for a “green” cemetery planned in east Bibb County finally got approval Monday to proceed.
In a 3-2 vote, the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission approved a conditional-use permit to allow a natural cemetery at 4600 Davis Road. The applicant is Summerland Group Inc., which is owned and managed by Elizabeth Collins, CEO, and James Wood Jr., president.
A natural burial is when “The body is prepared for burial without chemical preservatives and is buried in a simple shroud or biodegradable casket,” according to The Natural Burial Co-operative, Center for Natural Burial’s Web site.
The application first came before the commission March 10, but the board decided to defer the matter to the April 14 meeting to gather more information. At that meeting the vote was automatically deferred again when the vote was split 2-2 because Commissioner Jacqueline Hightower was absent.
Wood said that while the permit was for a total of 750 burials, likely only five to 15 burials would take place each year.
“There will not be 750 decomposing bodies at the same time,” he said.
Wood ask commissioners to base their decision on science and not on the emotions of opponents who may not be knowledgeable about the process.
“I am in favor of alternatives for people,” said Elizabeth Hanson of Macon. “I think anybody should have a choice in the way they care for their deceased relatives and friends.”
Several people at the meetings have opposed the cemetery, particularly because of concerns about well-water contamination.
While there are strict regulations against putting motor oil, batteries, cooking oil and other products into the ground, said the Rev. Donnie Bryant, who was a spokesman for the opposition, “how can we move to a point to where we allow human bodies to lay within a few feet of the ground surface?”
Also, he said a grave digger would be at risk from breathing harmful particles if a grave was dug beside another grave in which the body had not completely decomposed.
Steve Edwards of Decatur, who owns 52 acres across from the proposed cemetery, said “I am against this, I mean the fact that bodies can be buried two feet under ground.”
The cemetery owners have not said how deep the bodies would be buried, but that they would adhere to state and local regulations.
Commissioner Jimmy Patton, in making a motion to approve the permit, said that other agencies are in place to regulate health issues.
“Our job is to regulate land use - to decide if that particular piece of property is appropriate for a cemetery,” Patton said. “We are not a health department.”
Hightower said she had “listened carefully to both sides” before making a decision.
“I am always cognizant of my position on this commission … (and the site) would be fine for a cemetery,” she said.
When several people in the audience spoke out, Hightower responded: “No amount of bullying will change my mind.”
In the final vote, Commissioners Patton, Hightower and Sarah Gerwig-Moore voted to approve Patton’s motion and commissioners Damon King and Arthur Hubbard voted against the motion.