A crowd estimated to number 150-plus packed the Turnbull Gallery at South Surrey Recreation & Arts Centre last week to learn more about expansion plans proposed for Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery. The city is mulling how best to increase capacity at the 14850 28 Ave. burial ground and has begun putting together a master plan to that effect.
Officials contend an additional five acres will be needed at Sunnyside Lawn over the next 25 years and that the cemetery is the only one among the three city-operated facilities with room to expand. But the proposal is not sitting well with area residents. Some even protested outside the rec centre with signs during the open house, held Nov.
20. Many with concerns are stewards of Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest; home to a plethora of mature second-growth trees, as well as a stretch of the heritage Semiahmoo Trail. Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society is one of four local organizations collaborating to boost community awareness of the proposal, and encouraging the public to have their say.
They also want the city to "honour their own recommendations in their Biodiversity Conservation Strategy document that recommends we should preserve the remaining high-quality habitats." In a email distributed following the open house, SAHS president Bram Klijsen told recipients the turnout "sent a strong message opposing the cemetery expansion and its impact on our 100-year-old forest." He also criticized the city for sharing "limited factual information beyond their .