BEAVER TOWNSHIP Hearing set for crematory request

This is the second hearing on the proposal.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH LIMA -- Angels for Animals officials are once again asking Beaver Township Zoning Board of Appeals for a conditional-use permit to operate an animal crematory next to their facility on West South Range Road.
To hear additional evidence concerning that request, the zoning appeals board will have a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Beaver Township Administration Offices. Michele Swope, township zoning inspector, said Angels officials have said they have additional information and evidence that support their claim that the crematory would not pose any health hazards or safety concerns for the public.
Denial
Earlier this year the zoning appeals board denied the group's request for the permit after local residents told township officials they are concerned about safety issues and potential health hazards associated with having a crematory in their neighborhood.
The crematory would be used to dispose of animals that have died. Angels now disposes of dead animals by giving them to BFI waste collection at night.
Diane Less Baird, Angels co-founder, has said the crematory also would be used for private cremation ceremonies, which would allow pet owners to have their animals cremated and then take the ashes home with them.
Although there was no permit in place, the organization bought the crematory from a Medina company with a $38,000 donation from the Lariccia family of Boardman. The organization also started constructing a small building to house the crematory.
Less Baird has said the crematory was custom-made and likely can't be returned. Meanwhile, Tony Lariccia said if area residents go to court over the permit, he would tell Angels officials not to use his family's donation for the crematory.
At an earlier hearing in March, Less Baird said the only emissions from the crematory would be water vapor and heat.
She said Angels has received a permit from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the crematory. She also noted a similar facility has operated in Struthers for 15 years without receiving any complaints.
She added that without a crematory, state regulations give Angels little choice of how to dispose of the bodies.