Amador County – Supervisors discussed possible conditions of approval of a pet crematorium in Pioneer on Tuesday, but ultimately voted to deny an appeal for the project’s permit.

Supervisor Richard Forster asked why two Planning Commissioners from the Upcountry area voted for the permit approval, which was denied by the Commission. Planner Nathan Lishman said he could not speak for Commissioners, but thought they put their trust in staff reports. Novelli said nothing was found to be a detriment to air or odors, or in violation of state environmental law.

Supervisors Brian Oneto said it was probably not an optimal location for a cremator, but it is an agricultural area. He said he watched two cremations at Sunset View Cemetery, and saw no smoke and smelled little odor.

Forster said that would probably be a good place for an animal crematorium as well. He said: “You do not want to burn animals next to human remains, but on the other hand, some people love their pets more than they love their spouse.”

Lishman suggested operating hours of Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and preventing operation of the pet crematorium when “prevailing winds blow toward the Buckhorn Ridge area.” Forster asked how they would enforce that.

Lishman said the air board may have some ideas, and he noted that it would cut into operating hours. Air Pollution Officer Mike Boitano said penalties could be fines up to $25,000, and a revoked permit. He said “gross negligence would be if the operator walked away from the unit and things went bad.”

Applicant Michael Johnson said hour and day limitations were a little restrictive, and there was a “lack of evidential support.” He said “when you are operating a business, especially in the death care industry, you work when you need to work.” He is not going to use the cremator to “keep warm in winter. It is only going to be used when necessary.”

Novelli said in all of the handout materials, he had not seen any with the proposed cremator model used in residential areas. He asked Johnson if he had looked at placing the business at other areas. Johnson said to be frank, with the business he has Upcountry, he was looking for additional sources of revenue due to the economy. He said the Pioneer location is property he already uses, insures and licenses, and the new business would not support another area for years.

Johnson said: “I’m not in a position to do anything but find revenue streams that don’t cost a lot of money.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.