Summit County is grappling with the challenge of preserving its beloved open spaces, but a proposal for a sustainable alternative to traditional burial practices has sparked a mix of curiosity and concern among some members of the East Side community.
The Summit Land Conservancy presented Oakley residents with a concept for a conservation cemetery on 20 acres of city-owned land on Wednesday. While the approach aims to provide environmental protection and create a revenue stream, there have been some concerns about the potential impacts on neighboring properties, water quality and stewardship resources.
Conservation efforts are focused on protecting approximately 140 acres near Pinion Lane and Weber Canyon Road. This area already has hiking trails and additional recreational opportunities, with more planned.
But the nonprofit’s executive director, Cheryl Fox, envisions a quieter use elsewhere in the upper western portion of the property – a place that could serve as a living memorial honoring the lives of all those buried there.
“A natural cemetery is a place where people can be buried in a completely natural environment. There are no concrete vaults. There is no embalming. There are no varnished hardwood boxes. This is what we call pioneer burial. This is how people laid their loved ones to rest forever,” she said.
The proposed site would be open to the public but would not look like a typical cemetery. There would be no formal lawns, sprinklers, fertilizers or headstones. A conservation cemetery, the first in Utah, allows Oakley to maintain the rural character that residents value by protecting the land in perpetuity without the risk of major development.
Other benefits of a conservation cemetery include reducing carbon emissions, generating revenue for the city, providing affordable options for residents’ final stages of life, and strengthening the community’s connection to nature. A portion of the cost of a green burial would also be paid back to the Summit Land Conservancy, benefiting the nonprofit’s conservation efforts.
Participants at the open day seemed to support the basic idea, but were hesitant about the project’s potential pitfalls.
The most widespread concern was that burial in the countryside could poison the water supply.
One woman asked how dogs and horses could be banned from the catchment area if the dead were allowed there. Fox confirmed that a site analysis would be carried out to determine if the plot was suitable for green burials. If not, there will be no burials. Some areas may need remedial work, and others may be too wet or rocky to dig.
Proponents of the project said residential septic tanks are likely to have greater impacts on soil and water quality than a conservation cemetery. The Summit Land Conservancy would also work with the Summit County Health Department to ensure compliance.
Some homeowners feared that the construction of cemeteries would reduce the value of their properties.
Studies have found that proximity to a cemetery has no real impact on real estate prices. Still, values would almost certainly drop if a development were built on the land instead, Fox said. A conservation easement would help cushion real estate prices by protecting the view.
They also wondered how many bodies would be buried in the ground. Fox could not give an exact number, but estimated it could be 150 or less. Only one person would be buried in each grave.
The remains would be placed three feet underground, as opposed to six feet in a traditional burial. According to Shayneh Starks, director of Starks Funeral Home, composting occurs naturally at this level. She is certified in organic burials and would help arrange end-of-life care.
Some residents said Oakley should keep what it has to face the challenges ahead. The city has owned the pristine land for nearly 100 years, and there were questions about why officials would give it up now.
Oakley would not be responsible for managing the property, and city residents could enjoy special benefits if they choose to be buried at the sanctuary.
No formal action was taken this week.
The Oakley City Council must first hold a public hearing, tentatively scheduled for late August or early September. After that, officials would vote on whether to approve or deny the conservation easement after hearing citizens’ opinions.
