Residents in Littleton, New Hampshire voiced their concerns about a proposed zoning adjustment that would allow a crematorium to be operate in their town.

On Saturday of last week, Littleton resident Dora Wright found out that the Sabbow Company  planned to modify their existing property so that it could accomodate a crematorium.  Wright lives across the street from the company and was concerned about the effects of such an operation.  After doing some research on crematoriums and home values, she and other local residents voiced their concerns in the form of a petition presented to the Zoning Board. The factory which would house the crematorium is near a residential park where numerous children play as well as being close to an elementary school.

The company ultimately decided to build the crematorium in Berlin, New Hampshire after Littleton Zoning Board denied their change of use permit.

"The property value would definitely come down," one resident said.  "I was a real estate appraiser in the state of Massachusetts for a number of years and I can tell you that we would make an adjustment of 10 to 20 percent on a home given the comparable sales we were given, and decrease value because its not esthetically pleasing to potential buyers."

Wright says, "What concerns me the most is the pollution and also the devaluing my home because I'm right up from the plant itself."