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Council Work Session: Carrboro Cemeteries
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to provide an update to the Town Council on the status of the two Town cemeteries - Westwood and the Old Carrboro Cemetery - and to seek input on the long-term operation and use of the two Town cemeteries.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works, Planning, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources
CONTACT INFORMATION: Ben Schmadeke, Capital Projects Manager, 919-918-7424, bschmadeke@carrboronc.gov <mailto:bschmadeke@carrboronc.gov>; Daniel Snipes, Interim Public Works Director, 919-918-7432, dsnipes@carrboronc.gov <mailto:dsnipes@carrboronc.gov>; Ben Berolzheimer, Associate Planner, 919-918-7330, bberolzheimer@carrboronc.gov <mailto:bberolzheimer@carrboronc.gov>; Charles Harrington, Interim Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Director, 919-918-7377, charrington@carrboronc.gov <mailto:charrington@carrboronc.gov>
INFORMATION: The Town owns and maintains two public cemeteries, the Old Carrboro Cemetery and Westwood Cemetery.
The Old Carrboro Cemetery is located at 110 Old Cemetery Road and dates to 1910. As of January 2022, the Old Carrboro Cemetery has sold out of all available plots.
The Westwood Cemetery, located at 401 Davie Road has been an active Town cemetery since 1948. This cemetery is divided into sections with approximately half of the space currently undeveloped and un-plotted. Approximately 100 plots remain in the developed portion of the property.
The sales rate for plots at both cemeteries has been increasing over the last several years. Westwood Cemetery is expected to sell out within the next two to three years based on the average sales rate of the last three years. Neighboring municipalities have sold out of conventional burial plots in recent years. A detailed report on Carrboro Cemeteries can be found in Attachment A.
The eastern, un-used area of Westwood Cemetery has been analyzed for cemetery development. At the Board of Aldermen’s’ direction, Public Works procured the services of a consultant to investigate the soil suitability for burial plots and develop a concept plan for cemetery development. These findings are included in Attachment B: CVDA Draft Report on Westwood Cemetery.
Currently the Town Code does not allow for recreational activities to take place in any Cemetery. The Town Code on Cemetery Use is included as Attachment C.
A summary of references to Town Cemeteries included in the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan is included in Attachment D.
As the amount of remaining available plots in Carrboro decreases and discussion about the use of the undeveloped area of Westwood continues, the following topics are offered for the Council’s consideration:
1. Meeting burial demand - does the Town continue to provide burial services once all available plots are sold? Does the Town explore alternative sites for a cemetery?
2. Future use of Westwood property - Does the Town further develop the Westwood property (reference Attachment E: Westwood Cemetery Zoning Staff Memo)?
3. Should the Town consider cemetery improvements (Fence, Trees, Amenities including benches, decorative lighting, ordinance change)?
Attachment A: Carrboro Cemetery Information
Attachment B: CVDA Draft Report on Westwood Cemetery
Attachment C: Town Code for Cemetery Use
Attachment D: Comprehensive Plan Summary for Town Cemeteries
Attachment E: Westwood Cemetery Zoning Staff Memo
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: Current routine maintenance costs for both cemeteries are approximately $24,000 per year. The estimated cost to replace the Bradford Pear trees at Westwood (40 trees) is $60,000. The estimated cost to replace the damaged fence at Old Carrboro Cemetery is $35,000. If the Westwood Cemetery is fully developed, total revenue could be approximately $5,500,000 with total construction costs of approximately $1,696,991. Revenues are based on the modified fee structure and concept plan included in the CVDA Report.
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