L.A. nursery to become cemetery

Groves will turn to graves in Woodland Hills, where a developer has plans to redevelop Boething Treeland Nursery into a cemetery.

- By JACK FLEMMING

A DEVELOPER has plans to redevelop Boething Treeland Nursery in Woodland Hills into a cemetery, but some neighbors are resisting.

The 32-acre nursery has grown trees andother plants for the San Fernando Valley for the last seven decades, but it sold last year for $3.96 million to Dignity Memorial, the nation’s largest funeral provider. The company is in the process of submitting plansto the city of L.A. to get approval for a cemetery and funeral home on the property.

Some locals aren't so ready for the change. The siteis sandwiched by atrio of affluent communities — Woodland Hills, Hidden Hills and Calabasas — loaded with famous and outspoken residents.

The region, known for its rolling hills and serene setting, has become a hot spot for rappers, athletes and Kardashians looking for privacy outside the bustle of L.A. Such peace has a price tag — homes there regularly fetch $10 million or more — so when the proposed development became public, residents started petitioning, claiming religious objections, traffic concerns or the fright factor of living next to a cemetery.

More recently, the locals hired a lawfirm, Raskin Tepper Sloan Law, to push back on the project. Last month, the firm sent a letter to the L.A. Planning Department urging the city to review the plans before giving it the green light.

“We understand this represents a significant change for the neighborhood,” said Aaron Green, the project's spokesperson. “We value beinga good neighbor and look forward to open conversations as we move forward with our plans.”