A LOOK AHEAD * Alhambra residents and businesses are joining forces as . . . : Battle Brews Over Plan for Mortuary

David Chuang passes by the elegant brick building with the ivy-covered chapel at least once a day, and the mere thought of what it could contain makes him shudder with dread.

“I’m in my 60s. I’m happy to be alive. I don’t want to be reminded of death,” said the Alhambra man while picketing recently in front of the property, which some nearby residents and business owners fear could turn into a mortuary.

Alhambra’s current zoning law forbids mortuaries in several spots along Garfield Avenue, but a proposed amendment--to be voted on tonight by the City Council--would lift that restriction for mortuaries.

For the past few weeks, residents have staged demonstrations, gathered about 2,000 signatures on a petition and packed City Hall meetings to speak out against the measure. The proposal comes from the Whittier-based Rose Hills Co., which has cemeteries and funeral homes in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties and would like to purchase the building in the 900 block of Garfield Avenue.

“Rezoning just this one piece of property would never fly, so they’re trying to rezone the entire street,” said Doug Marsh, president of Alhambrans for Sound Area Planning and a leader of the protest.

Rose Hills has been trying to enter the western San Gabriel Valley market for years, but so far its advances have been rebuffed. The company tried to do business in Alhambra five years ago but withdrew after vigorous protests. A few months ago, the company tried to establish a mortuary in nearby Rosemead but also met strong resistance from that city’s residents.

“It’s been frustrating for us,” said Patrick Monroe, vice president of cemetery services for Rose Hills.

“A lot of people view the funeral industry as a little bit creepy, but it’s a service and 90% of what we do is for the living.”

Residents opposed to the company locating in Alhambra have voiced concerns about property values dropping and increased traffic from funeral processions. Some, like Chuang, simply don’t want a funeral home in their midst.

“It’s bad luck,” agreed housewife Kristine Cheng.

But proponents say that a mortuary here makes sense. The building, with its stately arches and manicured lawn, had been a funeral home for more than 50 years before it was used for office space about a decade ago, they said.

“This was one of the primary mortuaries in Alhambra. My father’s services were held in the building,” said Owen Guenthard, executive director of the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce.

The two mortuaries now operating in the city are owned by the same parent company, Guenthard said. “Competition would be good for the community.”

Because a decision is pending, council members declined to comment. Mayor Mark R. Paulson, who is the real estate agent for the owner trying to sell the property, has recused himself from discussions and said he would not vote on the matter because of the conflict of interest.

Alhambra has two mortuaries, and “both seem to be good neighbors,” said Michael A. Martin, director of development services for the city.

There’s no evidence that businesses caused property values to drop or that traffic significantly increased, said Martin, whose staff has recommended that the city approve the zoning change. He added that before Rose Hills could open, its owners would have to obtain a conditional-use permit.

The protesters point out that there are two schools, a park and numerous doctors’ offices near the property and contend that allowing a mortuary to open would be inappropriate.

“Maybe you’re not aware of Asian cultural concerns of living next to a mortuary, going to a doctor with a mortuary right there,” 11-year-old April Stephenson, who is half-Asian and half-Caucasian, told the City Council at a recent meeting.

Chuang, in the meantime, said he will do all he can to avoid mortuaries by remaining in good health. If the zoning law changes and the building houses a funeral home, Chuang said, “I wouldn’t drive down this street anymore.”