6. Better Place Forests - info on Scandia concceptNotes prepared by Merritt Clapp-Smith for Planning Commission Discussion Dec. 3, 2019
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Information on Better Place Forests
Description of the Use (from Better Place Forests representative):
Better Place Forests<https://www.betterplaceforests.com/> is creating America’s first conservation
memorial forests. Essentially, customers are able to contribute to the conservation of forestland by
purchasing cremation memorial rights to individual trees in a privately owned forest. Each
contributor has the exclusive right to rest their ashes, or those of their family, around a living
memorial tree. To fulfill this mission, we create conservation easements on our properties to
permanently protect the forests, open spaces and wildlife habitat from future development. We
offer an alternative to traditional cemeteries.
The impact of our project will mostly be from visitation and access for those that choose our
services. We will develop a forest management plan to improve overall forest health through active
management by reducing fuels, enhancing timber stands and managing non-native species. To
accomplish this, our proposed development plan typically includes a small parking area, a small non-
habitable structure containing a one-room site office, equipment storage room, a restroom, and the
related power, well and septic infrastructure needed to service the building.
For all of our forests we provide off-street parking and restrooms as part of the plans for our small
visitor center. This is typically a 1,500 sq ft building featuring small meeting spaces, restrooms, and
storage space for our on-site employees and customers to utilize. In addition to the visitor center,
other services or facilities that we would provide include a trail system (primarily improvements
upon on an existing network of trails on this property), small gathering spaces featuring benches or
small picnic tables, and potential viewing areas that may include a small deck or platform overlook.
Our largest groups thus far have been around 20 people, which is consistent with what we'd expect
to be the largest group at this property. We encourage our customers to have smaller, intimate
spreading ceremonies, which attract our largest groups. Additionally, all visits to the forest are made
by appointment only, so we do have the ability to limit daily visitation numbers. We would plan for
20 parking spots.
Although we are not considered a cemetery by the State, we are open to the cemetery land use
classification with the City of Scandia. Clients bring the cremains of loved ones and those are mixed
with local soil and rested at the base of the tree (not buried). We consult with local soil chemists to
generate a ratio that is neutral to the ecosystem (3:1 soil to cremains in other forests in CA).
How much parking do you want?
Links to press on Better Place Forests:
• NBC Today Show: https://www.today.com/video/startup-aims-to-save-forests-by-using-trees-
as-gravestones-67344965745
• Fast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/90366340/inside-the-vc-backed-forest-
cemetery-that-could-disrupt-how-we-die
• New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/12/style/forest-burial-death.html
Notes prepared by Merritt Clapp-Smith for Planning Commission Discussion Dec. 3, 2019
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Proposed Property for Better Place
Forests
• XXXX Lakamaga Trail
• PID 21.032.20.33.0004
• 111 Acres
• Zoning – General Rural and
Shoreland Overlay
Staff Analysis:
The proposed use most closely aligns with the “Cemetery” definition in the Scandia Development Code;
the activities and visitation patterns are very similar to a Cemetery.
Cemetery if defined in code as – “Land used or intended to be used for the burial of the dead and
dedicated for cemetery purposes and including, but not limited to, columbariums, mausoleums and
chapels when operated in conjunction with and within the boundaries of such cemetery.”
Cemeteries are allowed in the GR district with a Conditional Use Permit. Cemeteries shall comply with
all of the following standards.
1. The minimum area of a cemetery shall be 5 acres unless associated with a house of worship.
2. The site proposed for a cemetery or cemetery expansion shall not interfere with the
development of a system of collector or larger streets in the vicinity of such site.
3. Burial plots, grave markers, monuments, columbaria and buildings operated in connection with
a cemetery shall meet the building setbacks and structure height requirements of the zoning
district.
4. Graves and structures used for interment shall be setback 50 feet from wells.
It should be easy for your use to meet these conditions.
Fish Lake is classified as a “Natural Environment” lake by the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources. Therefore, structures must be at least 200 feet back from the Ordinary High Water Level of
the Lake, and septic would have to be 150 feet back.
Notes prepared by Merritt Clapp-Smith for Planning Commission Discussion Dec. 3, 2019
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In order to meet the needs of visitation, off-street parking and restroom facilities (which requires
installation of a septic system) should be provided. The code’s off-street parking requirements (Ch 2,
3.10(4) Off-Street parking) do not have an equivalent use, and therefore need to be determined by the
Zoning Administrator, based on the anticipated visitation and needs. Would it be possible to minimize
impervious by having only the basic spaces as bituminous (say 15 spaces or so), and an overflow parking
area as aggregate?
My online research does not find anything about it being illegal to sprinkle cremains on the soil in
Minnesota. There are some regulations about not doing it too close to a water body.