According to an Ohio law written in 1953, no crematory can be built within two hundred yards of a dwelling unless the owner of the dwelling consents. It does not apply to crematories built as of April 3, 1900. This one is within 300 feet of the two senior buildings — Four Seasons of Dayton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Covenant House) and Covenant Manor.
All of the buildings share Covenant House Drive.
Larry Skolnick, executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, which owns but does not operate the two senior citizen buildings, said, “There are 120 frail, elderly and disabled people who call Covenant House Drive their home, and the emotional drain for individuals in that situation, many of them close to end of life, to have to look across the parking lot and see the realization of a crematorium is not appropriate.”
Carl Daugherty, Trotwood’s planning and zoning administrator, said he understood the opposition, “but we have no shortage of commercial space.” Pryor planned to take over a building that has been vacant for about six years. It also is in arrears of about $50,000 in taxes, Daugherty said.
Pryor had no comment.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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