Lake Zurich board approves funeral home and crematory
A crematory will be part of a funeral home planned for Lake Zurich's south side.
Village board members recently granted final approval for the proposal pitched by Davenport Family Funeral Homes and Crematory for a 5-acre site on South Old Rand Road. It'll be near the Lexington of Lake Zurich seniors facility and two churches.
Trustees approved special permits that Davenport Family Funeral Homes needed for the crematory and the overall business. Lake Zurich's zoning code does not allow crematories, requiring Davenport to obtain a special permit.
Jack Davenport and his wife, Lisa, have funeral homes in Barrington and Crystal Lake. Appearing before the Lake Zurich village board, Jack Davenport introduced an expert to quell any concerns about the cremation of bodies.
Brian Gamage, an equipment sales representative for the Florida-based Matthews International Corp. cremation division, said the process - at most - throws off "distorted air" similar to hot asphalt in the summer. Steam also occurs, but tends to evaporate quickly, he said.
"There is no smoke or odor that is generated from the process," Gamage said.
Davenport told the village board more clients are opting for cremation. He said the funeral home strives to be service-oriented.
"So having a crematory right on site gives the families peace of mind in knowing that they can come and pay their final respects and say their farewells," Davenport said. "And the cremation process would be done right on site, as opposed to their loved ones being taken to a separate facility."
About 2½ acres of the funeral home site will remain preserved as an undisturbed wetland. Lake Zurich police will assist with funeral processions when necessary.
When asked by Mayor Thomas Poynton, Davenport could not estimate when the funeral home will open. Davenport thanked Lake Zurich employees for having a "can-do" attitude so the plan could reach final approval before the village board.