ATLANTA (July 7, 2015) | Sen. Brandon Beach (R – Alpharetta) announced today that he plans to file a bill addressing the distance between a crematory and a neighborhood.
“Over the last two years, the residents of District 21 have faced three new proposed crematories,” said Sen. Beach. “All three locations were highly contested by area residents. Similar protests are occurring all over the state.”
Currently crematories can operate 1,000 feet from a residential neighborhood. The legislation will require all crematories to operate a minimum distance of 2,000 feet from residential areas and will also strike the term “stand-alone crematory” from the Georgia Code.
“The nationwide trend of families choosing cremation over traditional burial is changing the funeral home and crematory industry,” said Sen. Beach. “It is clear to me and my constituents that our current law needs to be revised to address the trending changes.”
Like any business the funeral home industry has changed significantly over the years, in the past Crematories were typically a stand-alone business; however with the increased number of people choosing cremation many funeral homes are now including an onsite crematory.
“While there is science to support both sides of the health issues stemming from the emissions of today’s crematories, we must err on the side of caution for the residents of Georgia,” said Sen. Beach. “I recall when I was growing up that we were assured that asbestos would not be harmful to our health, and we are all aware now that was proven not to be true.”
In addition to drafting the legislation, Sen. Beach plans to hold a town hall meeting with Cherokee County Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens and County Commissioner Scott Gordon in the Towne Lake area in the next few weeks to discuss this issue with area residents. The exact date and location will be announced at a later date.
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For Immediate Release:
July 7, 2015
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Brett Johnson, Broadcast Specialist
Brett.Johnson@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028