The three-part process that led to approval of the project came with a stipulation that vegetative screening be placed as a natural buffer between the 11 acres of land targeted for the expansion and the existing Villages at Cross Creek community.

Approval of the project takes 11 acres away from the Villages at Cross Creek development.

The first part of the process was to take that land out of the Cross Creek Planned Unit Development.

Planning board member Lawrence White at first wanted to table that portion of the process so City Attorney Gilbert Chichester could review it. His rationale was based on interpretation of policy that doesn't allow deviation from the planned unit developments.

Planning and Development Director Kelly Lasky said the conditional use permit process gives the city the chance to make those changes.

The rezoning request on the matter passed as did the conditional use permit request to allow the expansion.

Sandra Showalter, owner of the cemetery off Smith Church Road, told the planning board, in response to comments made by one Cross Creek resident, even with the proposed expansion, there would be no traffic going into the development.

That's when planning board member Sherry Hux suggested adding the visual buffer, to which Showalter responded, “We have no problem with that.”