In Tynehead there is growing opposition to plans for a funeral parlour and crematory on rural, ecologically sensitive land near Serpentine River.

Close to 3,000 people have signed a pair of petitions targeting the development proposal on 168 Street in Surrey, near 92A Avenue.

Proponents say Surrey needs a venue for the cremation of the dead, but residents of the area say the proposed site is wrong for such activity, and at least one Surrey councillor agrees.

"I do think that we need to have a funeral parlour and crematorium in Surrey," said Coun. Linda Annis. "Five Rivers (Community Services Society), the applicant, currently has a facility in Delta, and it is extremely busy, so there certainly is a need for one. What I don't support is the location of this one (in Surrey).

"It's on 168th where it's just a two-lane road, ditches on either side, no sidewalks, in a residential neighbourhood, and I think there are better spots for it."

In October 2023 Surrey's Planning and Development Department said , for many reasons, but today a green sign for the development proposal now stands on the property.

The site was purchased by the applicant in 2021 "based on their view of there being a justified need for a funeral parlour and crematorium within the Surrey community," says a report to council.

Current zoning and by-laws don't allow for that type of development, and concerned residents hope it stays that way. 

Raj Khatar and Surj Sandher have worked to inform their neighbours of the proposed funeral home. 

"A lot of the information came at us pretty fast because the general awareness of this project in the Fleetwood/Tynehead area is virtually negligible," Khatar said. "There's been very little public awareness."

Molly Hutchins launched the .

"The crematorium is industrial use and the funeral home is commercial use. They do NOT belong in a residential neighbourhood," Hutchins posted. "The proposed facility will be 12 acres with 315 parking spots. The negative impact to the community will be enormous."

The site is located on a flood plain next to the salmon-spawning Serpentine.

"We're unfortunately living in an era where things like atmospheric rivers are a pretty regular part of our weather patterns," Khatar noted. "Each and every time we've had one, there are multiple road closures around here. Once you start to dig out that much dirt on 12 acres of property, compact it and then pave over it, that water runoff can only go either into river, onto the road, into the ditches or into the surrounding adjacent ALR land, which now impacts the ability to grow food in those areas as well. So there's just so many impactful reasons why this proposal makes no sense, and the city staff has said the exact same thing."

 says "the applicant states that they understand the deep importance of environmental stewardship within the City’s suburban areas and will continue to abide by all environmental regulations while providing a socially important facility." The applicant also says the site has no steep slopes, nor is it located in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).

A public information meeting is in the works, and nothing would be built before a public hearing at city hall, Annis noted. "We'd be taking another look at this, no matter what," she added.