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Printer version: Some say cemetery plan disturbs the peace Page 1 of 2 startribune.com Close window Last update May 10,2005 at 12:23 PM Some say cemetery plan disturbs the peace Sarah McCann Star Tribune Published May 11,2005 A new funeral home in St. Anthony's Sunset Memorial Park cemetery could be a way to serve families or it could intrude on the park's historic value, disturb the ambiance and flood green space with cars. Officials with Alderwoods Group Inc. of Cincinnati, a national funeral home and cemetery operator, say they would respectfully design and place a funeral home with their clients' needs in mind. The group's attorney, Daniel Tyson, said the current funeral home building's weaknesses include accessibility, size and lack of air conditioning. Two recent studies found the cemetery eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Sunset Memorial Park looks just as the name implies. It was established in 1927 and was the first Midwest example of a memorial park, which strives for a simple, accessible feel. An expanse of grass dotted with trees and plants carpets the memorial park. Headstones are set into the ground, noticeable only as people stroll past them. A grey granite mausoleum and chapel sits on one end of the property, across the border into Minneapolis. That building is used as a funeral home. In front of the mausoleum is a reflection pool lined with trees. Then comes a bell tower followed by mirroring rows of trees. Next in line, the grey granite administrative building and gate house serve as a bookend to the layout. On both sides of the strip are winding trails and landmark monuments. The founders intended the look and feel to help eliminate negative images associated with cemeteries, according to a historic assessment. According to St. Anthony zoning rules, cemeteries are acceptable on that property, but funeral homes are not. Alderwoods Group is asking the city to change the rules to allow funeral homes if the city approves individual requests. The planning commission will vote Tuesday at a public hearing on whether to recommend or deny the zoning request. Then, if the City Council were to approve the change, Alderwoods Group would go through a separate process requesting approval of the funeral home. 'To serve families' Plans call for replacing the 4,500-square-foot administrative building with an 11,500-square-foot funeral home and putting parking stalls behind the new building. "We're building this to better serve the families that are already coming to us," said Chaya Cooperberg, director of communications for the Alderwoods Group. Preserving history http://www.startribune.com/dynamic/story.php?template=-print_a&story=5391950 5/12/2005