By Morgan Adderley

Tribune Staff Reporter

madderley@tribunemedia.net

A proposal to create a cemetery on Bernard Road is being met with backlash from residents of the surrounding communities.

On February 15, The Tribune published a public notice from the Department of Physical Planning announcing the proposal.

The notice said: “This proposed tract of land contains 13.504 acres and is situated on the northern side of Bernard Road, immediately east of Sands Addition and approximately 450 feet west of Adderley Street.”

“The applicant (James R Bain) wishes to develop a cemetery, construct a chapel and a mausoleum with related facilities on the property.”

The Johnson Road Community Association held a meeting on February 21 to discuss the matter.

Attorney Bjorn Ferguson told The Tribune on Friday that the meeting was well attended by residents of the surrounding areas.

He said disapproval for the proposal was “unanimous”.

On February 22, Johnson Road Estates resident Tiffany Eldon created an online petition against the proposal.

The petition is entitled: “Stop Proposal of Cemetery on Bernard Road” and published on change.org.

Up to press time, the petition had 195 signatures, just five short of its goal of 200.

Ms Eldon also spoke to The Tribune on Friday.

She said: “I was inspired to start this petition because I was concerned about the health of persons living in the surrounding areas due to the likelihood of the water table being contaminated.”

She added: “The majority of people in this community use private wells.”

“Secondly, during the week traffic is already congested from school traffic.”

“Putting the cemetery there will also (cause) congested traffic on the weekend, seeing that Bernard Road is already a narrow thoroughfare.”

She added: “(A cemetery) will open up a window for more criminal activity for the area in which I live.”

“The majority of (residents) living in my community (are) 100 percent against this proposal.”

Ms Eldon and Mr Ferguson also shared a letter with The Tribune written by Mr Ferguson and addressed to Director of Physical Planning, Mr Charles Zonicle, on February 23.

The letter also addresses concerns regarding traffic, property devaluation, potential water pollution, and the need for public spaces in the area.

It reads in part: The residents of Monastery Park, Jean Street, Bernard Road, Sands Addition, Garden View Estates, Johnson Road Estates, Johnson Terrace, Adderley Street and Fox Hill strongly oppose Mr James Bain’s proposed plans for a cemetery. “Our general reason for opposing this kind of development in our community is because firstly, our community is already densely populated and this development will impact traffic patterns in a negative way.”

“The main corridor, which is Bernard Road, is a very narrow one and we anticipate that the development will add to the negative driving experience we currently encounter by increasing vehicular traffic to the area; especially on the weekends.”

The letter continues: “We are of the considered view that after applying the proximate principle used in real estate to assist in determining value to land, the surrounding land to the development will be negatively affected. “

“We (also) would like to highlight what in fact the community needs; we are in dire need of a public space for children and adults to recreate.”

“We are concerned about this and the amount of subdivisions that were approved without a mandatory provision for public spaces for residents.”

“Research has indicated that there is a correlation between the lack of public spaces/green areas and crime levels.”

“The economic and social impact that we have forecast concerning the proposed development provides very little to our community.”

“Any development that adds to our quality of life will be more than welcomed.”

“A cemetery, chapel and mausoleum, however, will not add to our quality of life in the area.”

Works Minister Desmond Bannister also spoke to The Tribune on Friday about the proposal and petition.

Mr Bannister said: “An application has been made for the designation of certain land as a cemetery. The process is simple. The application is published and concerned persons have 21 days to lodge their objections.

“No application has been approved, nor does the government have any interest in whether or not one is approved. It is up to concerned residents to follow the process that is provided by law.

“Accordingly, anyone who is concerned would more productively utilize their time by lodging their opposition and the reasons thereof with the Department of Physical Planning in accordance with the law so that their voices may be heard and they may participate in the process.”

Mr Ferguson said the Association intends to hold another meeting.

No date had been set up to press time, but according to Mr Ferguson it is tentatively scheduled for the week of February 25th.