MINGO JUNCTION — The village’s planning commission voted 3-1 on Tuesday not to recommend a zoning change so Schuetz Funeral Home can install a crematorium.

The vote not to recommend the change will be forwarded to village council for consideration at its meeting next Tuesday.

Adam Peeler, who also is a member of council, voted to recommend the zoning change, with Joseph Ross, Alan Sawon and Mayor Ed Fithen voting against making the recommendation.

The zoning law doesn’t allow crematoriums in residential areas, said village Solicitor Ernest Wilson.

Jeffrey Schuetz, who also is a member of council, asked for the zoning change for his Clifton Avenue funeral home. He said he wanted relatives to be able to leave their loved one at the funeral home prior to cremation.

“I want to have good relations with customers that their loved ones never leave our care,” he said.

Ron Salvatore of Matthews Environmental Solutions of Pittsburgh, the manufacturer and installer of crematoriums, said the company has 200 crematoriums in Ohio, including a recently installed unit in Toronto.

He said about 80 percent of the units across the country are installed inside funeral homes, with most located in residential areas.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issues a permit for the unit, Salvatore said.

“It is a major investment for a funeral home,” he said.

Matthews said there is a double chamber in the unit, with the gases being burned a second time at 1,600 degrees before being discharged out a chimney.

He said there are no odors or toxic gases released if the unit is properly operating. He said the unit automatically shuts down if there is a problem.

Charles Martin, a neighbor of the funeral home who owns two houses there, spoke out against the request for the zoning change.

Martin presented a petition signed by nearly 100 village residents opposing the crematorium.

He said toxins and odorless gases will be released into the air.

“I don’t care were other crematoriums are located. We don’t live there. (Schuetz) has other options — our only option is to sell our houses for less than they are worth and move,” Martin said.

Martin alleged the issue has proceeded this far because Schuetz is a village businessman and a member of council,

Ross objected to the statement, saying the planning commission wanted to hear all comments on the issue.

Kyle Moffat, another resident of Clifton Avenue, said he was in favor of the crematorium because the village needs more businesses.

“I don’t see anything bad about it,” he said.

Schuetz after the meeting said he will wait and see what council’s decision will be.

Village Administrator Bob Smith, who is the fifth member of the planning commission, abstained during the vote, saying he can see both sides of the issue.