By Isaac R. Coleman
SNELLVILLE, Ga. | The Centerville Highway Corridor LLC (CHC LLC) has formally called upon the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners to demonstrate leadership by strengthening community engagement in land use decisions. The CHC LLC specifically requests the reinstatement of protective zoning standards for funeral homes and crematories.
The CHC LLC is urging the Board to adopt two specific measures that would position Gwinnett County as a model for balanced, community-centered development across Georgia:
- Reinstate the Special Use Permit (SUP) requirement for all crematories and funeral homes. Establish a 1,000-foot conditional use buffer for funeral homes and crematories in C-2 zones when located near residential properties.
- Strengthening Public Participation. The Board of Commissioners has a unique opportunity to demonstrate that Gwinnett County is a leader in transparent, community-inclusive governance.
- The January 2024 elimination of the SUP requirement for crematories unintentionally removed a vital avenue for residents to participate in decisions directly impacting their neighborhoods. Restoring the SUP requirement would reinstate essential public notice, hearings, and formal community involvement.
This need for protective standards is highlighted by a current proposal at 3662 Centerville Highway, where a funeral home with a crematory is planned near established residential areas. This facility would affect over 6,000 residents and multiple daycare and assisted living facilities within a one-mile radius, serving as an example of why countywide protective standards are necessary.
The CHC LLC emphasizes that these measures are not intended to prohibit necessary facilities but rather to establish fair, consistent standards across all Gwinnett communities. These protective measures align with Gwinnett County’s vision for sustainable development and serve to:
- Protect Community Investment: Strong property values are essential, with current concerns that property values in impacted areas could see losses of up to $50,000 per home. Protecting homeowners’ equity also safeguards Gwinnett County’s tax revenue base.
- Enhance Safety and Quality of Life: Appropriate buffers and traffic considerations for these facilities ensure commercial development complements, rather than disrupts, existing residential neighborhoods.
- Support Good Planning: These actions ensure development considers the well-being of existing communities.
- Setting a Benchmark for Georgia Counties: By adopting these common-sense protections, the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners would not only serve their own constituents well—they would establish a benchmark for thoughtful land use planning that other Georgia counties could follow.
This is an opportunity for Gwinnett to lead by example and show that good governance means listening to communities and planning for long-term success.
The CHC LLC is committed to working collaboratively with the Board to implement these necessary protections.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
