Historic Maryland pet cemetery faces potential zoning change for gas station

Developers seek to convert part of the Rosa Bonhuer Memorial Park into a Sheetz gas station, convenience store and car wash

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The historic Rosa Bonhuer Memorial Park in Elkridge, Maryland, which has served as the final resting place for thousands of pets, including those owned by presidents, is facing a potential zoning change that could allow developers to convert a portion of the cemetery into a Sheetz gas station, convenience store and car wash. Plot owners are outraged at the prospect of their beloved pets' remains being "dug up, discarded and thrown in the dumpster" to make way for the new development.

Why it matters

The Rosa Bonhuer Memorial Park has a storied history as a final resting place for pets, some of which were owned by prominent figures like former President Harry S. Truman. The proposed zoning change and development would desecrate the cemetery and disrupt the final resting places of thousands of beloved pets, causing significant emotional distress for the plot owners and raising broader questions about the preservation of historic sites and the rights of pet owners.

The details

Developers, represented by attorney Chris DeCarlo, are seeking to rezone a portion of the Rosa Bonhuer Memorial Park from a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) district to a Business General (B-2) district, which would allow for the construction of a Sheetz gas station, convenience store and car wash. The cemetery property is currently owned by Memorial LLC, which purchased it in 2016. Plot owners, such as John Pelton, who have pets buried at the cemetery, are outraged at the prospect of their loved ones' remains being "dug up, discarded and thrown in the dumpster" to make way for the new development. The lengthy zoning hearing has already seen testimony from multiple witnesses, including a land use planner and the civil engineer involved in the project, as well as plot owners and advocates who are fighting to preserve the historic cemetery.

  • The planning board denied developers' efforts to rezone the property last year.
  • On Wednesday, the developers returned to petition a hearing examiner, Joyce B. Nichols, to rezone the parcel of land.
  • The lengthy hearing is expected to continue on Thursday morning.

The players

Corridor Square LLC

The unnamed owner behind the efforts to rezone the Rosa Bonhuer Memorial Park property.

Memorial LLC

The current owner of the Rosa Bonhuer Memorial Park cemetery property, which they purchased in 2016.

Chris DeCarlo

The attorney representing Corridor Square LLC in the zoning change efforts.

John Pelton

A plot owner who has three pets buried at the Rosa Bonhuer Memorial Park cemetery.

Joyce B. Nichols

The hearing examiner who will be presiding over the zoning change hearing.

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What they’re saying

“They'll be dug up, discarded and we'll have a car wash instead. I think that's morally repugnant.”

— John Pelton, Plot owner (wmar2news.com)

“My mother and father are buried there. We have two dogs, we have a parakeet. The President, Harry S. Truman, has a dog buried there, what are they going to do? Rip the President of the United States' dog up out of the ground and throw it in the dumpster? They have to have a little compassion. These pets are like family members.”

— Curtis Gray, Plot owner (wmar2news.com)

What’s next

Once the entire hearing is concluded, the examiner will put together a report to be shared with the zoning board, who will ultimately make the final decision on the zoning change at a later date.

The takeaway

The potential zoning change and development of the historic Rosa Bonhuer Memorial Park cemetery highlights the ongoing tension between preserving sacred spaces and the pressures of commercial development. This case raises important questions about the rights of pet owners, the protection of historic sites, and the ethical considerations surrounding the disturbance of final resting places, even for beloved animals.