A graveyard inside San Antonio metropolis limits is nothing new — solely as a result of most of them are outdated.
Cemeteries like San Fernando Cemetery No. 1 and a set of cemeteries on the East Aspect return many years and even centuries, and predate state legal guidelines that got here later and altered the place a cemetery might be constructed.
In 2023, these guidelines had been altered once more when the Texas Legislature handed Home Invoice 783 permitting cemeteries to as soon as once more be established inside metropolis limits.
Now a Houston-based supplier of funeral, cremation and cemetery providers is eyeing land on the South Aspect, main space householders and officers to ask questions on what will be completed.
Service Company Worldwide (SCI) is in talks to purchase an 80-acre parcel of land to determine the funeral residence and cemetery, Funeraria del Angel. The wedge-shaped property is positioned throughout U.S. Freeway 281 from the Mission del Lago neighborhood, between that roadway and Farm-to-Market Street 1947 (South Flores Avenue).
On Monday, residents of Mission del Lago who’ve began a petition towards these plans will meet with representatives from SCI, which additionally owns a cemetery close to Oakwell Farms on town’s North Aspect and the Neptune crematory service.
The assembly begins at 6 p.m. at Julian C. Gallardo Elementary College.
Within the meantime, District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran has requested metropolis workers to have a look at how future cemeteries inside the metropolis limits are zoned and deliberate.
Property values
Maryann Smith and her companion moved from Seattle final yr seeking a spot with a heat local weather the place they may retire. They purchased the brand new Lennar-built residence in Mission del Lago for its wheelchair accessibility and proximity to trails, bird-watching and the golf course.
When Smith tried to promote the condominium unit she owned in Seattle, she discovered that her residence’s close by “facilities” — a time period she used to explain a big cemetery, marijuana dispensary and strip membership — diminished its property worth by about 13%.
“I received the advantage of that once I purchased, however I additionally suffered once I bought,” she stated.
Now with most of her financial savings tied up within the new home, Smith is reluctant to see the identical factor occur once more and has began gathering signatures from residents who’re against it.
She’s additionally upset to see land that might be developed for residential makes use of, and the tax {dollars} it might generate that might help the college district and public providers within the space, change into a cemetery exempt from property taxes.
The property owned by SCI for its Sundown Memorial Park cemetery, assessed at $13.6 million, is exempt from all property taxes, in accordance with county tax information.
Mission del Lago house owner Robert Burnett additionally worries concerning the cemetery bringing extra visitors to the world and making a secluded area for “unsavory conduct.”
“Whereas they do serve an necessary service for grieving households, it is going to be higher suited elsewhere,” he stated. “I’m not towards cemeteries, I’m simply towards one on this location.”
Particular use rezoning
In October, SCI requested via land use lawyer James McKnight that the property be rezoned, via a particular use authorization, that might enable the cemetery to be constructed at 13279 FM 1937.
The property is at present in a residential zoning district that enables for a wide range of housing varieties with reasonable to excessive density.
Along with state legal guidelines limiting the place cemeteries might be constructed, the Metropolis of San Antonio has since 1965 had in place an ordinance requiring metropolis council approval for brand spanking new cemeteries together with different guidelines.
Michael Shannon, director of town’s improvement providers division, described the method in a latest council Planning and Group Improvement Committee assembly.
In most main Texas cities, the Unified Improvement Code states that the council can approve a particular use authorization for a cemetery in most single-family, multi-family and business zoning districts.
However Viagran stated that given the brand new regulation and progress in her district, town may must take a better take a look at that course of and think about placing parameters round what’s allowed when it comes to acreage, visitors influence and proximity to neighborhoods and faculties.
“I needed to guarantee that, as a result of every part appears to be transferring south and now we have the land area, we perceive how we’re going to maneuver ahead with cemeteries that fall inside the metropolis limits,” she stated.
Viagran additionally stated it’s necessary to contemplate the place cemeteries are constructed with regard to the place individuals bury their lifeless and entry to the cemetery with out an undue burden when it comes to journey time and value.
SCI’s alternative of places is strategic in that manner, stated Evan Wagner, actual property supervisor at SCI.
“For cemeteries to achieve success, they should be a part of communities,” Wagner stated. “We’re attempting to determine a legacy right here. We would like these individuals to really feel snug that they might need generations of their household to be buried right here, not should drive out 20 miles south.”
SCI’s plans name for a funeral residence on about three acres of the property and a cemetery undertaking and cremation backyard on the remaining, Wagner stated.
The positioning received’t have a crematorium or put together our bodies for burial.
“Folks don’t like occupied with dying, however it’s a necessary a part of the group,” Wagner stated.
‘Friendliest neighbors’
Wagner stated he’s conscious of articles like one by the actual property web site, Realtor.com, that state cemeteries negatively have an effect on the property values of properties in shut proximity.
San Antonio realtor Danny Charbel stated in his expertise that’s true. He as soon as confirmed a house to a shopper that met all the client’s necessities. Nevertheless it confronted a cemetery, a truth the potential new house owner couldn’t get previous.
“A purchaser’s notion of worth is just not as excessive as an an identical property that doesn’t have some form of relationship with a cemetery,” he stated. “Me personally, I’d most likely go for the one which’s not close to the cemetery, although the neighbors are louder.”
Realtor Daniel Nguyen who has a list in Mission del Lago stated cemeteries sometimes solely have an effect on property values if it’s straight subsequent to properties or extremely seen from the group.
Elevated visitors might be a priority, he added, a difficulty that might be mitigated with planning.
However research by SCI have demonstrated property values are in no way affected by cemeteries, Wagner stated.
“Relating to neighbors, we’re a park, basically,” he stated. “It’s inexperienced area. We’re low influence on utilities. We’re not an enormous warehouse or massive retail middle that creates lots of visitors. So so far as business makes use of can go, we’re concerning the friendliest neighbors you may hope for.”
In October, the Zoning Fee really helpful approving the request to rezone. The case is ready to go earlier than Metropolis Council on Feb. 6.
Smith stated she hoped that letters from the neighborhood affiliation, the college district and a funeral trade group objecting to the cemetery undertaking would sway officers to say no the request. But when it will get constructed, she has nowhere else to go.
“I’ve invested manner an excessive amount of in my residence making modifications to make it accessible for my companion,” she stated. “If I need to depart, it’s going to value hundreds [of dollars] to recreate what I created right here to make my without end residence.”
