The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in favor of a developer who proposed a crematory in Bethel, reaffirming the need for land-use boards to render decisions based on site-specific evidence, as opposed to generalized concerns.

"What the Supreme Court essentially found is that general, speculative concerns voiced by the opponents based on nothing more than a subjective dislike of a crematory as a use, because of the stigma some people associate with a crematory, isn't enough—that isn't substantial evidence," said Daniel E. Casagrande, of Cramer & Anderson, who represented the plaintiffs.