COCHRANE CEMETERY MASTERPLAN OPEN HOUSE TOWN HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

COCHRANE CEMETERY MASTERPLAN OPEN HOUSE TOWN HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 171 4 TH AVENUE, COCHRANE, ON MAY 8, 2019 – 5:00 PM TO 6:30 PM

WELCOME  Open House – 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Presentation and Public Engagement Session – 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Cemetery Authority  Cemetery Master Plan presentation  Projects and ideas to improve cemeteries in the Town of Cochrane  Questions, comments, and concerns

WHY WE’RE DOING AN OPEN HOUSE  The Town of Cochrane is currently constructing a Master Plan to improve the cemeteries operation and aesthetics.  The Town of Cochrane wants the public’s input and ideas for cemeteries.  This allows the public to become familiar with cemeteries within the Town, services that we offer, and gives the public an opportunity to ask questions.

TOWN OF COCHRANE CEMETERIES  The Town of Cochrane has control of 3 cemeteries  Civic Cemetery – Corner of Golf Course Road and Concession 2&3  Roman Catholic Cemetery – Genier Road between Concession 2&3 and Concession 4&5  Genier Cemetery – In the Village of Genier

CIVIC CEMETERY

ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY

GENIER CEMETERY

CEMETERY AUTHORITY  The cemeteries in the Town of Cochrane operate under Town of Cochrane By- Law Number 1274-2017  The Town of Cochrane Cemeteries are regulated under the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO)  The Town of Cochrane has a Cemetery Committee that meet regularly to discuss issues, concerns, and ideas, which are brought forward to Council  The Town has 2 ORFA certified cemetery operators:  Shane Skinner, Director of Infrastructure Services  Eric Genier, Rural Coordinator

CEMETERY MASTER PLAN  The Town of Cochrane started constructing a Master Plan for the cemeteries to provide direction for improvements that should be made to the cemeteries  This allows us to gather information, concerns, and ideas at all levels  The department of Infrastructure Services spearheaded the project  There are 5 stages to this project: Department produces recommendations 1. Cemetery Committee reviews, discusses, and adds to the Plan 2. Public Open House to obtain feedback, concerns, and recommendations 3. Cemetery Committee reviews recommendations from the Public Open House 4. Infrastructure Services proceeds with finalizing plan and recommend improvements 5. for Council Approval

CIVIC CEMETERY ENTRANCE  Improve the entrance to the Civic Cemetery  Sandblasted rock with name of cemetery  Shrubs and flowers around the rock

ADDITIONAL PARKING AT CIVIC CEMETERY

EXPANSION OF CIVIC CEMETERY  The Civic Cemetery is nearing capacity and expansion is required  The Town of Cochrane will begin the application process in the near future to ensure there is no shortage of plots

RECORD KEEPING AND MAPPING  The Town of Cochrane is looking to improve record keeping via a cemetery software  This would allow the Town to give the Public easy access to names and location of loved ones in the cemeteries  The Town currently has hardcopy maps of the cemeteries available internally. The cemeteries are also mapped on the Town’s internal GIS software  New, user (public) friendly maps to be made, showing sections of the cemetery  Maps will be available online and at Town Hall

CIVIC CEMETERY LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

LANDSCAPE RESTORATION  The current terrain at the Civic Cemetery is severely uneven  The department is proposing a phased landscaping project  Landscaping will include removing headstones, bases, trees, etc.  Each headstone and base will be GPS surveyed and placed in the exact spot it was removed from  New earth and topsoil will be spread and sloped to create a flat terrain with improved drainage  Headstones will be replaced  This project will improve accessibility to plot sites and will improve cemetery aesthetics

CEMETERY FENCE  The current chain link fence at the Roman Catholic Cemetery and the Civic Cemetery is in poor condition and at the end of its lifecycle  The initial plan was to replace the chain link fence with a new, more appealing black wrought iron fence  This is a costly project  During the Cemetery Committee meeting, a member proposed a hedge fence instead of an iron fence

MEMORIAL BENCHES & TREES  All trees, shrubs, and any belongings on cemetery plots that do not conform to the Town of Cochrane By-Law will be removed from all cemeteries  The department is proposing to plant “memorial trees” in areas designated by the Town/Cemetery Committee  These trees will require minimum maintenance, i.e. restricted height and non- invasive roots  Benches are to be installed in various locations throughout the cemetery

FLOWERING VEGETATION  It was brought to our attention that the cemeteries lacked flowering vegetation  The plan is to design and construct more flowering gardens in each cemetery  Provide flower gardens around the new columbarium sites

LARGER TREE BUFFER  One concern is the lack of tree buffer around adjacent properties and vault buildings  Plant more coniferous trees around the vault buildings  Plant coniferous trees to separate the open field and the cemetery

CIVIC CEMETERY – VETERANS AREA  New interlock walkway to flag pole for improved accessibility  Stone memorial that will include the names of all Veterans buried in the cemetery  Add aesthetic appeal to the Veterans area

CEMETERY PROMOTION  The cemeteries lack readily available information for the public  By-Laws have now been posted on site  No map of the cemetery denoting the different sections  The Town website has limited information

ON-SITE INFORMATION KIOSK  Billboard-type kiosk containing a map the cemetery, important information, and contacts.  Located at the entrances to each cemetery  Direct the public to visit the Town website for more information  Cemetery email for comments, complaints, and suggestions

COCHRANE WEBSITE WEBPAGE  The Town creates a webpage within the Town of Cochrane’s website  The webpage will contain all maps with sections  Links to important information such as the By-Law, the BAO, cemetery fees, etc.  A place for the public to provide input, comments, issues

WATER AT CEMETERIES  The department is looking into a way to have onsite water storage for the public to access to water flowers on plots  The Town’s water main does not extend to any of the cemeteries. A rain catchment system would be the only way to provide this service

NEW COLUMBARIUM Roman Catholic Cemetery Columbarium Civic Cemetery Columbarium

COLUMBARIUM  In January 2018, the Town of Cochrane had a columbarium installed at the Civic Cemetery and Roman Catholic Cemetery  A columbarium is a structure to house niches for the internment of urns.  A niche is a space that can fit 2 urns  Each niche is 12.5” wide x 14” deep x 12.5” height  Each columbarium has 48 niches (24 per side)  The face of the columbarium face north and south in each cemetery

COLUMBARIUM  Plaques are used instead of sandblasting  The plaque creates a uniform look across the columbarium  Plaques are installed the day they are received by the Town

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS