BF plan met with resistance Businesses question crematorium site

The island where the crematorium would go is in the middle of an industrial zoned area. That is completely appropriate. Perhaps the nay saying business neighbors and the Chamber of Commerce would like to explain their wisdom in opening restaurants and tourist centers in an industrial zone.

They claim it doesn't fit the character of the area. I disagree. I think what they mean to say is that it doesn't fit what they would like the character to be. If they wanted to change the character of the area, they should have considered advocating for a change of zoning, not just gone ahead and spent all the money the have in niceties for the leaf peepers in a factory zone.

Crematoriums provide needed services and tax revenue. The Bridge to Nowhere (Waypoint Center) does not.

agree. good point. perhaps Riccio has a conflict interest. how can he run the Chamber of Commerce (objective - bring businesses to town) while running the Waypoint say he does not want this crematorium within eyesight of the waypoint/train area. perhaps he should have reclused himself from this issue.
if has the #$%^ to turn away any businees in these economic times - he should give up as being the head of the C of C. BF is hurting. needs all the business they can get.

Regarding the two ovens, crematorium experts said Vermont has very tight regulations with it comes to odors and visible emissions. DeSimone's business would have to apply for a permit at the state level prior to constructing the ovens, which are limited to only four daily uses per unit.

Great regulation but no enforcement ask Bratt.

Vermont citizen's remarks are right on. Bellows Falls brings in tourism dollars? Not one dollar! Bellows Falls is where the gritty Vermonters live, work (some of them) and pay taxes (again, some of them). Turning away business to protect the tourists or the artists is simply protecting a fairy tale that has not come to life and won't come to life no matter how many times the Exner Block is painted with taxpayer dollars and put on the front page of the newspaper.

This is a no brainer! Tourism is a joke in BF the restaurants in the down town area don't even keep regular hours and close on holidays (when tourist might actually come). There are no real hotels or motels in the village note the old hotel the town finally sold continues to sit empty. Artist and art galleries there is not even an art supply store in town hard to believe there is much going on. Bocellis is ridiculously expensive and frankly not that good but gives the pretentious wannabes somplace to go and massage each others egos as they continue to fantasize about their revival. Bring in the jobs and deal in reality people I hope the zoning board follows the law and does the right thing.

If there is a legitimate health issue with creamatoriums, that should be addressed and understood. There is a creamatorium on Western Avenue in Brattleboro. That street is condensed with businesses and residences. What problems have occured there?

If there are no problems, then what is the problem? It is great to promote the arts and tourism (although you could kill tourism in the long run if you have signs that say "shops and galleries! over here!!" when in fact there aren't any), but it is not ok to let the charade stand in the way of real jobs for real people.

The proposed creamatorium would be away from everything except the waypoint. So, in what way would the waypoint center be affected?

The industrially-zoned area in question is no longer performing industrially, as the face of Bellows Falls began to change decades ago. So that is moot. What is a concern is any environmental issues, the smell of the crematorium on a daily basis in the downtown business area of the village and the negative connotations it will create, as if, by what I've seen here,BF already doesn't have enough already. Hopefully, you can click on this link below to view a report on MSN about mercury toxicity of crematoriums.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16656749/

bfbratt wrote:

If there is a legitimate health issue with creamatoriums, that should be addressed and understood. There is a creamatorium on Western Avenue in Brattleboro. That street is condensed with businesses and residences. What problems have occured there?
If there are no problems, then what is the problem? It is great to promote the arts and tourism (although you could kill tourism in the long run if you have signs that say "shops and galleries! over here!!" when in fact there aren't any), but it is not ok to let the charade stand in the way of real jobs for real people.
The proposed creamatorium would be away from everything except the waypoint. So, in what way would the waypoint center be affected?

Really now, I would be more worried about health threats from pets pooping and owners not scooping.

brainstormin wrote:

The industrially-zoned area in question is no longer performing industrially, as the face of Bellows Falls began to change decades ago. So that is moot. What is a concern is any environmental issues, the smell of the crematorium on a daily basis in the downtown business area of the village and the negative connotations it will create, as if, by what I've seen here,BF already doesn't have enough already. Hopefully, you can click on this link below to view a report on MSN about mercury toxicity of crematoriums.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16656749/

I don't think a building housing a crematorium creates a negative connotation for a village/community. There are communities around us with crematoriums. There are none of them known as "crematorium town." If there are legitimate health issues, they have to be considered. But what is special about BF from other communites that host them? Did the other communities not consider the health issues? Are the other communities stupid?

Eating meatballs will kill you, more business for the crematorium. I say kepp both businesses open.

if this does not get approved by the trustees or selectman or whomever else will be voting on this - y'all need to step down- now... this little fantasy world that you think this village is - forget about it.
take a poll of the citizens of bellows falls. let them vote on this. i know one thing - they could care a less about art - they care about jobs. we need them.

conan wrote:

if this does not get approved by the trustees or selectman or whomever else will be voting on this - y'all need to step down- now... this little fantasy world that you think this village is - forget about it.
take a poll of the citizens of bellows falls. let them vote on this. i know one thing - they could care a less about art - they care about jobs. we need them.

Thankfully, none of the boards you mention, nor the Chamber have any decision-making authority in this matter. It is up the zoning board.

thanks for clearing that up .. well - hopefully the zoning board will actually welcome ANY business and look beyond this "art community" mentality that some people in this town want to portray..
the waypoint center - nice place. how much revenue does it generate? how many jobs there ? that is what the zoning board needs to think about.