A proposal from the Weston Planning and Zoning Commission has caused some controversy among residents and real estate agents such as Debbie Rehr. If it passes, the plan proposed late last month would allow for a maximum of four human bodies to be buried on a private property.
The burials would only be permitted on lots of 3 or more acres with safe vehicular access as determined by the commission. Burials would need to be 75 feet from the back, front and side of the end of the property lines.
Rehr says she does not see how the plan could withstand the views a public hearing on Oct. 18, but she is concerned that if the plan were approved, it would hurt real estate in Weston.
"It will affect the property values of all of the neighboring homes and potentially all homes in Weston," said Rehr, who works in the Camelot Real Estate office in town center.
"When I'm out showing properties and if somebody sees that there's a cemetery across the street or adjoining or whatever, it kind of creeps them out a little bit," she says, imagine a cemetery in the yard of the home someone is looking to buy.
"And potentially, what if you move away? I think sometimes people think they're either going to live forever or they're going to keep their property in their family forever," she said. "What do you do when you need to sell the house, what would that do to your own property value?"
Rehr said she is concerned that a town cemetery could be built near someone's home.
"You could have somebody in a very high-end neighborhood with beautiful open space all around them, and then if a cemetery were to move in next door, ... it would most likely impact the value of their property and is that fair to them?"
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