Woodland Hills Residents Oppose Cemetery Development on Former Nursery Site

Cemetery Development Plans

• 🎯 A 32-acre former nursery site, Boething Treeland Nursery, located off the 101 Freeway near Woodland Hills, Hidden Hills, and Calabasas, has been sold to Dignity Memorial.
• 🏗️ Dignity Memorial, a large funeral provider, plans to transform the property into a cemetery.

Resident Concerns and Objections

• 🏘️ Residents living near the property, particularly in the affluent Hidden Hills community, are objecting to the development.
• ⚠️ Concerns cited include religious objections, traffic impacts, and a general unwillingness to live near a cemetery.
• ⚖️ Some residents have hired an attorney, arguing that the property's current zoning allows for expedited approval without lengthy public hearings or environmental reviews, which they believe is insufficient.

Developer's Response and Project Details

• 💬 A spokesperson for the project states the cemetery will be small compared to others locally, with only one or two services per day, typically outside of rush hour.
• ✅ Dignity Memorial asserts they are required to ensure safety and will handle the soil responsibly, regardless of its condition.
• 🗓️ Project plans are expected to be submitted to the city next month, with Dignity Memorial intending to engage in conversations with neighbors upon submission.

Challenges to Opposition

• 🧐 An attorney not connected to the project suggests that stopping the development could be difficult due to the property's existing zoning.
• 📣 The attorney for the opposing residents is appealing to the city and the local council member, though the path forward remains uncertain.