Development Planning Around Grave Sites, Cemeteries

A proposed subdivision off Charlie Maxwell Road might have graves underneath the land.

So, what does this mean for development? Putnam County Planning Director Kevin Rush said in most cases, the county knows where grave sites are but occasionally they run into unmarked graves.

Rush said this does not stop development, but it does put it on pause.

“In the case of an actual cemetery where there are known graves, the options are to include the cemetery as part of the plans for development,” Rush said. “Or start the process to move those graves to another cemetery.”

Rush said that state law grants a family access to cemeteries and an easement is typically put around the area for visiting. Rush said the decision to move graves can be very lengthy and requires a developer to contact all surviving descendants.

“We would allow the developer to make that decision,” Rush said. “It can be a very costly decision, depending on the location of the site. Let’s say on a commercial project, where you’re building a shopping center. It may be the location number, that it would interfere with the actual commercial property and use of it as commercial property, to leave them where they’re at.”

Rush said that when developers run into grave sites they have to determine what they’ve found.

“Occasionally you’ll run into unmarked grave sites,” Rush said. “Typically those are handled on a case by case basis. If there’s one body that’s found during excavation that has to be dealt with. Construction stops until they figure out if it’s an Indian burial ground or a family plot where somebody was buried on their farm or just somebody who died who was out in the woods many years ago and nature took its course.”

Rush said people still request to be buried on their own property. He said it’s their choice, but leaving a marker or headstone can help let future generations know where graves are located.