Tiverton Planning Board hears backlash over proposed crematorium

TIVERTON, R.I. (WJAR) — Tiverton's town Planning Board met Tuesday night to discuss a proposal to build a crematorium along the town's Main Road.

The Tiverton High School auditorium was packed with residents encouraging the board to deny the permit.

The proposal, submitted by Sakonnet Partners LLC, requests a permit to build a 2,960-square-foot crematory at 730 Main Road near both residential and commercial properties.

"I'm going to see people unloading bodies. I'm going to see people crying. I don't need my grandchildren in the front yard watching this," said one Tiverton resident.

• RELATED: Tiverton residents speak out against proposed crematorium

Along with a petition with more than 1,000 signatures, town residents also have a cytotoxic human waste expert on their side, as residents expressed concerns about what the crematory would do to their air quality.

The team hoping to build the crematory said the state Department of Environmental Management would regulate the site.

One board member made a motion to vote on the permit Tuesday night, but the board ultimately agreed to give the Sakonnet team more time to submit their documents and information at the next meeting.

The next meeting will be held April 4.