Planning is well underway to update to the City of Delta’s cemeteries and cemetery services.
In an updated report to council presented at the Oct. 7 meeting, staff note that a workshop will be scheduled early in the new year to review a draft Cemetery Master Plan and that the outcome of the workshop will help shape the recommendations in a final report and future bylaw amendments.
The final phase of the project will also include updated feedback from staff and community consultation.
The city currently provides cemetery services at the North Delta Cemetery, located at 8737 Brooke Rd., and the Boundary Bay Cemetery at 856 56th St. in Tsawwassen.
Cemetery services and fees are established in the Cemetery Bylaw.
A decade ago, the city hired a consultant to develop site-specific master plans for each cemetery that included expanded above-ground service options, additional in-ground burial and cremation options and site improvements including landscaping, pathways and benches.
Endorsed by council in 2015, with a cost of $1 million, those plans were carried out in several phases.
“Over the past several years, demand for in-ground and above-ground interments has continued at a steady pace and once again, we are facing capacity issues within the next five to 10 years specifically at BBC. In addition, there are requests for alternate service offerings, such as green and natural burial services that aren’t currently available,” the report notes.
“There is limited space at BBC to provide additional in-ground interment offerings. Recently three (3) niche walls containing 40 units each have been added to the above ground inventory; however, those too are filling up and it is anticipated that capacity will be reached within the next two (2) to three (3) years. NDC is not experiencing the same demand for space.”
To address capacity concerns, the city retained the services of the same consultant to assist in the development of an updated master plan that is to be delivered in several phases, which includes community engagement.
“Moving forward with a land needs analysis will help determine if existing cemeteries can adequately serve the community for the next 25 years, or whether additional land will be required. To determine this, a gap analysis of current products and services and a high level overview will be conducted. The analysis will outline the benefits and impacts of various options on the future of cemetery services in Delta,” the report adds.
