Vote on Kitchener funeral home expansion deferred until the end of January

A decision to possibly expand the Henry Walser Funeral Home in Kitchener has been put on hold until the end of January.

The funeral home, located on Frederick Street, is looking to add a crematorium, but they'd have to tear down some rental units around the corner that are owned by the business.  

They need council permission for the demolition, but the residents in those houses came to plead their cases at a committee meeting Monday, saying their need for housing should be more important than the need to expand a business.  

According to The Record, Henry Walser acknowledged at the meeting that the residents in his rental units on Becker Street pay rent that's about $400 lower than what they'd pay elsewhere.  

Some residents also raised concerns about having a crematorium in their neighbourhood.  

City councillors deferred the vote until January 30. They also asked city staff to explore other options to allow the business to expand without tearing down the homes.  

— With files from Mark Douglas