A Lexington town committee's 55-page report recommends against building a crematory at Westview Cemetery, projecting total annual costs of up to $446,000 against maximum revenues of less than $150,000.

The Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee II released the report after voting 4-2 against the project. The Lexington Select Board received the document on Monday, Sept. 28, and dissolved the committee on Monday, Oct. 5.

The majority's financial model is blunt. An average of 313 Lexington residents die each year, the Lexington Observer reported. The report estimates about 100 would choose cremation at a Westview facility. Even under the most optimistic scenario, with every Lexington death resulting in a Westview cremation, revenues would stay below $150,000.

Estimated capital construction costs of $1.5 million to $2.5 million would add $110,000 to $180,000 in annual debt service on a 20-year bond at 4%, pushing total yearly costs to between $376,000 and $446,000. The report projects an annual deficit of $331,000 to $401,000.

The majority also raised environmental unknowns. No local, state, or federal standards exist for crematory emissions, according to the report. A mercury-control system alone would cost an estimated $120,000. The Lexington Board of Health sent two letters to the committee raising concerns about pollutants, vaporized mercury and health risks to employees and nearby residents.

Zoning presents another hurdle. Westview Cemetery sits in the R-1 Residential District, and crematories are not listed as a permitted use in any Lexington zoning district. Permitting would require Town Meeting or Zoning Board of Appeals approval, a special permit, a state air quality permit and other sign-offs. The report estimates that process would take 12 to 24 months.

The majority argued the town should instead push existing crematories to accommodate Dharmic-faith rituals. Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge already has a glass-walled chapel section for witnessed cremations but does not allow the havan ceremony, a Hindu end-of-life ritual requiring the eldest son to light the cremation flame. Many Lexington-area families have traveled to New Hampshire or Connecticut to perform it.

The minority report, authored by committee members Archan Basu and Jyoti Puri, sharply disagreed. It applied the financial model of Duxbury's Mayflower Cemetery crematory and concluded a Westview facility could break even on operating costs with 1.5 full-time employees and proper pricing. The minority also argued that rising cremation demand would stretch existing facilities beyond capacity and that modern filtration systems could address environmental concerns.

Community observer Sandeep Patel told the Lexington Observer that the majority declined to weigh environmental comparisons between cremation and traditional burial. "People pointed out that cremations are generally considered safer, environmentally better than traditional burials," Patel said. "And some members just said, 'Oh, that's not our mandate…'"

In September, when the committee voted, Basu told the Lexington Observer that majority members "came into this with rigid views and did not engage in the task posed to us by the town."

Mike Harris, Joseph Su, Jillian Tung and Judy Zola voted with the majority. Basu and Puri voted against. Rabbi David Lerner was absent. Select Board member Joe Pato chaired the committee as a non-voting facilitator.

The committee held a public listening session on March 19 that drew more than 100 attendees. A 2019 town committee reached a similar conclusion, recommending against a Westview crematory on financial and regulatory grounds.

No follow-up vote or Select Board agenda item on the recommendation has been announced.