SAN LORENZO — Grissom's Mortuary followed all the right steps in its 16-month effort to build a crematory on its property off Lewelling Boulevard, but the project was shot down by a last-minute discovery of an obscure regulation buried in the county's health and safety code.

The code prohibits crematories within 300 feet of residences, therefore the county had "retracted" its approval of the facility, Alameda County planner Albert Lopez said during the unincorporated services meeting Wednesday night at the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association community hall.

The regulation "never came to our attention until now," Lopez said, adding that he was informed of it by a person he did not name. It was regrettable that Grissom's had expended resources on the project to no avail, he said. "Our county code is vague on the item," he said.

For the last 16 months, Grissom's Mortuary has been doing preliminary work for the construction of a multiple-chamber crematory with the capacity for 500 cremations a year at its mortuary and chapel at 267 E. Lewelling Blvd. The project was approved by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and given the go-ahead by the county's planning department.

But some local residents opposed the crematory, which would be near the San Lorenzo Creek and surrounded by homes, businesses and a church. Three schools are also nearby.

Once they heard about the crematory, opponents contacted the county and canvassed

During the meeting Wednesday, public comment was divided for and against the crematory.

Opponents cited concerns over emissions and odor, as well as the psychological impact of having a crematory in a residential area, which might negatively affect property values. Proponents said that Grissom's has been a good neighbor for decades and that the emissions were negligible.

"We're not against your facility, we're just against putting in a crematorium," said Doris Marciel, who lives on Lewelling Boulevard down the street from Grissom's.

One of the mortuary's owners, Lisa Wyrabkiewicz, asked county supervisors Nate Miley and Alice Lai-Bitker to help find a new location for the crematory.