MINT HILL, N.C. — McEwen Funeral Home is looking to expand with a new facility on Fairview Road in Mint Hill.
But there have been mixed reactions from people who live near the new site.
Many recognize the funeral home as important to their community, but there’s overwhelming concern about how the chosen location will affect their neighborhood.
The funeral home's current location is less than a mile from the new one.
The owners said it’s time to move, as the home has outgrown its current location, and they want to serve families better.
Neighbors, however, are concerned about privacy issues as well the traffic congestion the new funeral home would cause.
"My main concern about relocating a funeral home to this neighborhood is that with only one way in and one way out, it can only contribute to that traffic situation being worse," neighbor James Matthews said.
Some also argue a funeral home at the entrance of their neighborhood would tank the property value.
"We are going to be losing, per house, anywhere from $26,000 to right at $65,000," another neighbor, Mike Vance, said.
Town leaders in Mint Hill first heard a lot of these concerns at a public hearing in early February. They continued the discussion at another public hearing on Thursday.
The Mint Hill Planning Board will meet on March 18 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the funeral home's zoning petition.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.