New Crematory Evades City Planners

"Nearly 200 residents crowded into Snellville City Hall on Monday night to voice concerns about a crematorium under construction near their homes.

Even city leaders said they didn't realize a business owner plans to open a crematory on heavily traveled U.S. 78 and on property zoned for office and professional use and backing up to homes. Now, it seems, it's too late to stop it.

Cremation Society of the South, which has locations in Marietta and Stockbridge, already has crews working toward an August opening for the crematory at the corner of U.S. 78 and Abington Drive in Snellville. City officials said because the city's zoning codes don't exclude crematoriums from the area, the city is powerless to stop the project."