A new crematorium in Frisco, Texas is causing some residents to have concerns — and even petition to halt construction and stop the business from opening.
Residents thought the building under construction at 7800 Sanctuary Drive was going to be a church or other community-oriented business. Instead, it’s a crematorium.
An online petition began on Nov. 17, 2023, to stop the crematorium from opening within city limits. The anonymous petition creator and other residents near the building site voiced concern about the health issues associated with the chemicals used during the cremation process.
“Frisco residents should not be forced to endure continued exposure to dangerous chemicals, carcinogens, neurotoxins, fumes [and] black smoke from cremated human remains and other toxic pollutants from a proposed cremation facility off of Eldorado in between Rogers and North County Rd, behind St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and minutes from downtown Frisco and FC Dallas Toyota Stadium,” the petition read.
So far, the petition has garnered 805 signatures with hundreds of comments warning about the chemicals. The petition creator also noted that the site is close to Warren Sports Complex, often utilized by kids.
“Kids especially shouldn’t suffer life-long health effects from being exposed to any amount of mercury, carcinogens, smoke, fumes, odors and toxins emitted from burning human remains while they play outside for their soccer or baseball team,” the petition read.
Mercury is one of the more dangerous chemicals used in the cremation process. A study by the National Library of Medicine sought to examine the dangers of crematoriums and assess the human risk. The study found “no indication that ground-level exposures to elemental mercury vapor from crematoriums poses a significant risk to human health.”
Despite the petition asking Frisco City Council and Mayor Jeff Cheney to “revoke the construction permit,” no action on behalf of the city has been taken.
During the city council meeting on Nov. 21, 2023, Assistant Director of Development Services Jonathan Hubbard explained the permit for the crematorium was given before the residential neighborhood was built. Restrictions on emissions are in place in Frisco and the crematorium owners agreed to abide by all terms and conditions.
