Health Concerns

Crematoriums release harmful toxins like combustion gases, particulate and fine dust, heavy metals, and organic pollutants that can devastate the health of residents.
On top of risks to local wildlife and salmon, humans also face potential risks such as cancer, reproductive issues, neurological disorders, respiratory illness, and much more.

                  ● Crematoria emissions and air quality impacts | National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health | NCCEH – CCSNE
                  ● Mercury from crematoriums: human health risk assessment and estimate of total emissions in British Columbia – PMC
                  ● Article_Crematoria_Emissions_and_Air_Quality_Impacts.pdf
                  ● Measurement of nanoparticle exposure in crematoriums and estimation of respiratory deposition of the nanoparticles by number and size distribution – PMC
                  ● Residents upset by crematorium soot – The Globe and Mail
                  ● Cremation pollution? Neighbors nervous 

Contradictory to City Policy on the Serpentine and Nicomekl River Setting a Precedent for Developers

The proposal contradicts Council-endorsed Policy O-55, “Development within the Nicomekl and Serpentine River Floodplains”. The proposed development is fully situated within the 200-year floodplain of the Serpentine River, and thus is subject to Council-endorsed Policy O-55:
`“Development within the Nicomekl and Serpentine River Floodplains” (Appendix II). Adopted by the Council in 2008, Policy O-55 guides the development and associated filling within the 200-year floodplain of the Serpentine and Nicomekl rivers, intending to mitigate the potential impacts of development in floodplain areas.

Environmental Impacts
Protected Salmon Habitat. The Serpentine River is home to a vital salmon-spawning steam. Toxic pollutants along with water runoff and soil erosion could harm fish populations, disrupting their lifecycle and threatening the entire ecosystem.
This is a sensitive ecosystem and will affect the habitats of the Serpentine River and Nicomekl River. The salmon habitat will experience food chain contamination which is a threat to their species and other wildlife.
The approval of this proposed crematorium will be in contradiction of the Federal Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative. Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative.

Municipal Infrastructure Issues and Bypassing Policy and Procedures
No new City or private infrastructure will be permitted to be constructed within the floodplain, including roads, sanitary trunks, storm mains, water mains, and pump stations. Yet the developer is doing all such things that were put in place to protect the area from damage.

Official Community Plan & Neighbourhood Concept Plan
Local residents do not support an amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP).
The City of Surrey Planning and Development Report dated October 2023 indicates they do not support this proposal. They recommended it be denied.
The report also indicated this case set a precedent for future development proposals. The report indicates there are more appropriate locations in the City that would suit this type of use.
SEE THE CITY STAFF REPORT HERE

Floodplain Issues
The proposal is contrary to OCP policy D2.8 restricting new development in areas subject to flooding, including within the 200-year floodplain of the Serpentine River. Current weather patterns including atmospheric rivers require the shutdown of major roads like 88th Ave. This much soil removal, compact fill, and pavement for parking lots will only exacerbate the flooding and road closures, along with water pollutants entering the river and streams on the property.

Local Impacts: Parking, Traffic Congestion, and Impact on Parks & Schools
The proposal indicates 200 parking spaces. The current location on 7410 Hopcott Road is notorious for parking issues and overflow parking affecting the surrounding businesses. The company cannot manage its current parking situation and often has overflow parking signs displayed.
One funeral can garner upwards of 1000+ attendees. This location will have two funeral parlors, operating simultaneously. 200 parking spots is an insignificant number of spots for the number of patrons who will be attending this location. We have observed upwards of 300-400 vehicles for each funeral service, if services are held simultaneously there is a potential of approximately 1,000 attendees on site. 168th Street is not designed for high-traffic volumes. 168th is a single-lane road both ways, it cannot withstand hundreds of extra cars per day, with multiple back-to-back funerals being hosted throughout the day.

The increased use of 168th will put significant pressure on 96th Ave, 88th Ave, 176 St, and Fraser Hwy. as people will look to avoid the area.
The proposed crematorium is less than 1km from a school serving K-12 students and directly across the street from a children’s playground at Bothwell Park. A new school is also planned close by impacting even more kids and families.

City Planning
The city planning report indicates on page 9 that the applicant purchased the subject site two years ago; this is incorrect the land was purchased in 2017. During a recent review of the Anniedale-Tynehead NCP, the developer never brought forward their intent to avoid detection of their proposal.
All other locations for the Five Rivers group are located in industrial areas. Crematorium emissions in BC are not regulated, unlike Ontario.