New Mausoleum Planned at Westminster Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd

Westminster Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd hopes to build a new mausoleum next to an existing one overlooking the Schuylkill Expressway, company representatives told the Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd civic association Tuesday night.

The new building would be virtually identical to the old, said engineer Anthony Hibbeln: about 360 casket vaults and 88 to 90 spaces for the cremated.

Westminster does not plan to cut down any of the trees on its 82 acres in the course of building the new mausoleum, Hibbeln said.

The company awaits input from township staff on how to configure drainage and topography at the hillside location, which is near where a mudslide happened in the summer of 2011, club officials recalled.

Westminster also hopes to have the required traffic-impact study waived, Hibbeln said: "This (mausoleum site) is about as far away from Belmont Avenue as it is possible to be located."

Club members said they would further investigate the proposal before informing Westminster whether they oppose or take no position on it. The neighborhood club traditionally does not go on record with support of development proposals.

Also Tuesday night, the club voted for new officers and board members for the year ahead. Amara Briggs was installed as president, and the club added to its board three residents: Joseph Farah, Mike Utkus and Shifra Vega.