Redmon One Step Closer to Having Cremation Equipment

City Council will have the final say, but on Tuesday the planning commission gave its unanimous recommendation to change the zoning code to allow for cremation equipment at funeral homes. 

This is the second time Redmon Funeral Home President Keith Redmon is pursuing this zoning change.  

Redmon pulled his request shortly after residents who live near his business attended a meeting and expressed their displeasure. 

“We have obviously looked into this,” he said. “We would not do something that we felt was dangerous to our neighbors, to our families and to our staff.”

Redmon assured everyone that his company would be following all mandated standards when it came to cremation services. 

Planning Director Rob Kurtz said he went to Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home in Cuyahoga Falls with a member of the planning commission a few weeks ago.

“We didn’t even know there was a cremation going on,” Planning Commission Chairman David Kohlmeier said in an Ohio.com story. The only noise they heard was a small hum, he said.

Despite the planning commission's positive recommendation to council, residents near Redmon are still unhappy and voicing their displeasure. 

Jeremy McIntire, who lives across the street from the funeral home, said he isn't opposed to allowing cremation in the city, but he is opposed to having it close to his home. 

“I have no problem protesting this,” he said in an Ohio.com story. 

Council is expected to talk about the proposed zoning change Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.