CLEARFIELD – At a special meeting last night, the Lawrence Township Zoning Hearing Board held a hearing regarding the creation of a pet cemetery near Glen Richey.
The applicants are Tracie and Robert Lytle, who own Borrowing Freedom, a business which offers horseback riding, trail rides, Halloween events and more.
The land owner is listed as Dreams LLC and the Lytle’s are two of the applicants and created the limited liability company as a business trust.
Before the hearing could get under way, the board’s solicitor, Kim Kesner, informed everyone present for the record that only two board members were able to be present, Rex Read and Nannette Renchen. Chairwoman Nancy Yeager was unable to attend.
He said they could continue with two board members, but in the event of a split vote, the matter would have to be continued. Otherwise, they could postpone the hearing.
The Lytle’s agreed to move forward with the hearing and were sworn in as the applicants.
Kesner also had Code Enforcement Officer Debra Finkbeiner sworn in, and she gave testimony that on or about Sept. 20 Dreams LLC submitted an application for a special exception for the cemetery and requested a hearing.
She then contacted the zoning board to set a date and time for the hearing and posted the property. Under the zoning ordinance, a cemetery can be a special exception in a rural-agriculture zone, and during the supervisors meeting last week, Solicitor James Naddeo said in his opinion a cemetery was a cemetery, though this information was not presented at the hearing.
Tracie Lytle explained to the board they hope to open the cemetery in 2017. There are three cemeteries in what could be considered nearby. They are in Reynoldsville, Penfield and State College, but none for local residents.
One reason for a pet cemetery is that many pet owners rent and when their pet dies they do not have a place to bury their pet if they choose. She reminded members and the audience that pets are often considered a member of the family and pet owners would like to treat them as such.
The cemetery would be available for a variety of pets, from “pocket pets” (hamsters, mice, birds, etc.) to dogs and cats and even livestock animals, such as horses, cows, etc.
There will be a building that can be moved from place to place to provide a private mourning site for burial, and a storage shed.
Tracie Lytle noted they will eventually offer caskets, urns, stones and so on, but at first families will need to purchase these items elsewhere. Prices will range from about $75 for pocket pets, $100-150 for cats, $125-325 for dogs and for larger animals people would need to call for quotes.
Two neighbors also spoke about the proposed cemetery. Both Carl Freeman and David Nelson said they have adjoining properties and think this is a good idea for the area and support the Lytle’s on their endeavor.
Kesner then asked Finkbeiner if he has a horse and it dies and he wants to bury it on his property in the township, is there anything that would prevent him from doing so.
She replied there are no ordinances in the township that would prevent it, but there are state laws to be considered regarding watersheds.
Kesner then noted that the definition of a cemetery is a burial place for a person, and the definition of person under statute laws doesn’t include pets. There is nothing in the ordinances that prevents or allows a pet cemetery, and nothing in the testimony shows there would be an adverse impact.
Finkbeiner added that the only thing she found in her research is possibly the need for an application with the Department of Agriculture for burial of a volume of animals.
The board and Kesner then recessed for discussion. When they returned the board voted to not grant the exception.
However, they also agreed to override the zoning officer’s interpretation of the ordinance that it is not an allowable use. In the board’s opinion, it is allowable. Therefore, if the Lytle’s wish to move forward, they may do so.
