KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A group of people came to City Hall Tuesday to fight plans to destroy a historical cemetery in Kansas City.

There are plans being made to redevelop about 100 acres of land on the border of Raytown in southeast Kansas City to build housing, stores and office buildings.

The Smith cemetery, which contains the remains of Civil War veterans and families from the 1800s, is housed on the land.

Opponents to the redevelopment plan went before the city zoning committee Tuesday to prevent the destruction of the cemetery.

"I think because it has survived all this, it's entitled to preservation," said Vicki Beck, who advocates saving the cemetery land from redevelopment.

Beck said if the redevelopment plan is approved without mention of saving the cemetery, she will take the case to court.