(Editor’s note: GwinnettForum received this comment from residents of Centerville community, south of Snellville, concerned that a funeral home in their area would harm the area. Here is their news release in its entirety.—eeb).
SNELLVILLE, Ga. | Open letter to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners and the developer of the proposed funeral home and crematory on Centerville Highway:
To the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners:
To the Developer and Funeral Director proposing this facility:
And to the Citizens of Gwinnett County:
We, concerned residents and members of Centerville Highway Corridor, LLC, strongly oppose the proposed development of a new funeral home, crematory, and pet crematory at 3662 Centerville Highway. This project threatens the health, safety, property values, and peace of our community — and we will not stand by quietly.
Our community has been blindsided by a stealth change in zoning law that stripped away public input on one of the most sensitive and controversial types of development. Until January 1, 2024, any crematory project in unincorporated Gwinnett County required a Special Use Permit (SUP) — a legal safeguard that ensured transparency, public hearings, and accountability. That requirement has now been quietly removed, bypassing the community’s right to weigh in. This is not only unethical — it is unacceptable.
Let us be clear: this is not just about a crematory. It is about process, fairness, and community rights.
Key points of opposition include:
- Loss of Public Input: The elimination of the SUP process prevents residents from voicing concerns.
- Traffic Congestion: The Zoning Board of Appeals granted a variance allowing 161 parking spaces where only 57 are required — a nearly 200 percent increase, that would worsen already problematic traffic on Centerville Highway.
- Property Values: Studies consistently show that proximity to crematories negatively affects home values, saleability, and residential desirability, as well as degrade the quality of life due to pollution and noise.
- Health and Environmental Risks: Crematories emit mercury, particulate matter, and other toxins regulated by the EPA. Georgia’s Nuisance Law (O.C.G.A. § 41-1-1) prohibits uses of property that “injure or endanger the comfort, health, or safety of others.” The introduction of a crematory is a nuisance by definition.
- Lack of Need: There are over 20 funeral homes currently operating in Gwinnett County — three within four miles of this proposed site. The idea that this facility is “needed” is false. The only parties who benefit are the developers.
The residents are urging the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners to deny permits for the project, reinstate the SUP process, mandate comprehensive environmental and traffic studies, and represent the people who elected you.
We are also calling on the developer to withdraw the project and engage with the community, rather than exploit a zoning loophole.
This community is organized. This community is informed. And this community is united.
Respectfully,
Centerville Highway Corridor, LLC, on behalf of the residents of Centerville, Snellville, and the greater Gwinnett County community.
- Media Contact: Isaac R. Coleman, 678-571-6439, Centerville Highway Corridor, LLC
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
