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SECOND AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. O-1213-17: AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AMENDING CHAPTER 22 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF NORMAN TO ADD PROVISIONS TO ALLOW CREMATORIUMS; AND PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY THEREOF.
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BACKGROUND: Staff has received two inquiries regarding allowing the construction of Crematoriums. The Zoning Ordinance does not specifically allow crematoriums; and because they are an unusual use and do not fall easily under any category already listed in the Zoning Ordinance, staff is proposing to amend the Zoning Ordinance to specifically allow the use with conditions and requirements.
Staff has reviewed several other cities' zoning ordinances as to their regulations for crematoriums. We found a wide range of regulations. EXHIBIT A is a table which identifies the cities we researched and the regulations those cities required for the construction of crematoriums. The primary factors that we found were:
1. Primarily allowed in commercial and industrial zones.
2. Access on an arterial street.
3. Special Use Permit required in many of the cities.
4. Setback distance from residential areas.
5. Inside storage of any materials.
6. Meeting State and Federal requirements.
Crematoriums must be licensed by the State of Oklahoma.
The proposed amendment incorporates each of the above elements into the Ordinance. The Ordinance allows Crematoriums as a Special Use in the A-2, C-2 and C-3 zones and as a Permitted Use in I-1 and I-2. The use has the following development requirements that must be met whether developed as a Special Use or a Permitted Use.
(1) Crematoriums shall meet the setback requirements of the underlying zoning district, except that they will be located a minimum of 400 feet from any residential building, measured from the closest point of the crematorium building to the nearest residential building.
(2) Facilities shall meet all applicable state and federal requirements for incineration equipment and shall be licensed at all times.
(3) All storage shall be inside.
(4) Incinerator stacks shall not be located on the front side of the roof of any structure facing the street.
(5) Crematoriums shall have direct vehicle access to an arterial street.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the attached Ordinance to amend Chapter 22 of the City Code to allow Crematoriums as a Special Use in the A-2, C-2 and C-3 zoning districts and as a Permitted Use in the I-1and I-2 zoning districts. Planning Commission is scheduled to hear this item at their meeting of November 8, 2012.