Appeal of Proposed Crematory Continues for Shipley's Choice Residents

Residents of Shipley’s Choice that live near a proposed crematory in Millersville heard their appeal before a county board on Wednesday, but no end is in sight.

, Maryland Cremation Services, has had its building and sewer permits appealed by nearby Shipley's residents Stephanie and Jason Pippin.  The first round of hearings before the Board of Appeals brought in an array of lawyers who compiled their evidence for and against the case.

Opening arguments were presented to the Anne Arundel County Board of Appeals by James Doyle, the attorney representing the co-owner of the proposed crematory, Dorota Marshall, and John Dougherty, the attorney representing Shipley’s Choice residents.

Doyle had filed a motion that the appeal be dismissed outright, on grounds that it was filed too late in the process. However, that motion was tossed out by the board shortly after they met in executive session to discuss their options.

“Having the right to be heard is fundamental,” said board member William Moulden, after he made the motion to reject the dismissal of the appeal.

Later in the meeting, Board member Jay Breitenbach questioned the standing of the appellants, asking how close they lived to the proposed business, which is in an office park on Headquarters Drive, located off of Veteran’s Highway.

“I’m just trying to clarify the standing of Mr. and Mrs. Pippin as well as that of Shipley’s Choice,” Breitenbach said.

The full history of how Marshall chose Millersville to establish her business in was reviewed in detail, between the two attorneys. The first on the proposed crematory location was held in May at in Severna Park.

Each permit application and certificate was scrutinized by each side of the argument. Letters from various government agencies were disclosed in the more than 15 pieces of evidence filed with the board.

Doyle and the county’s attorney, Dipa Miles, both noted that Marshall had fulfilled all obligations of the county in filing the proper paperwork and securing permits for her proposed business.

But Daugherty dragged out details of hurdles the Marshalls have encountered in establishing their business thus far. He noted that an air quality permit has yet to be fulfilled with the state for the incinerator. And the county’s health department had, as recently as this week, asked the Marshalls to revise their site plan, removing a preparation room for embalming.

After more than two hours of questioning and testimony the hearing ended without a conclusion. Chairman William Knight ordered the meeting closed, to be continued next week, with five additional witnesses still to be interviewed.

“You’d better start thinking about another date before the next hearing,” Knight said.

*Editor's Note: The name of Chairman William Knight was corrected.