The watery edge of the undeveloped Crow's Nest peninsula in eastern Stafford is a haven for wildlife. The landowner wants to develop part of the tract and place the remainder in a conservation easement.

A great blue heron perches in its nest on the Crow's Nest peninsula in eastern Stafford. Ospreys and bald eagles also thrive on the pristine 3,800-acre tract between Potomac and Accokeek creeks. rdt

Landowner wants to develop part of Crow's Nest, put rest in conservation easement

By RUSTY DENNEN

Date published: 1/13/2004

Cluster project eyed at Crow's Nest in Stafford

The owner of Crow's Nest is exploring development options for the eastern Stafford County peninsula now that plans to sell the tract to the state for a nature preserve have fallen through.

K&M Properties of McLean will meet tomorrow with several county officials to present preliminary development plans for 3,800 acres between Potomac and Accokeek creeks.

Among those meeting with K&M Properties attorney Clark Leming will be Pete Fields, chairman of the Stafford Board of Supervisors, Aquia District Supervisor Kandy Hilliard, and Jeff Harvey, the county planning director.

"They wanted the opportunity to present some ideas," Hilliard said, "but that doesn't change anything in my mind." She has been an ardent advocate of preserving the land.

Leming declined to discuss details of the company's plans yesterday, saying he did not want to pre-empt county supervisors. But he was willing to talk in general terms about what the company has in mind.

"We want to see if there is a way to develop a portion of the property while preserving the most environmentally sensitive areas," Leming said, "and placing those in a conservation easement."

Streets, homes and other components would be clustered in certain areas to have the least impact on the rest of the property, which has been described by preservationists as an environmental jewel.

Leming said a clustering plan would require some rezoning--the land is now zoned for low-density rural residential use.

Any rezoning would probably require some hefty proffers on the part of the developer and might involve permits from state and federal agencies, if wetlands or historic sites are disturbed.

Named after a black 19th-century schooner moored at the property, Crow's Nest has one of the last remaining stands of virgin forest in the region and is home to rare plants and animals.

Another consideration is topography. Crow's Nest is no developer's dream: The land is rugged and cut with deep ravines, which is one reason the tract has been undeveloped to date.

"There are some pretty steep slopes, and I would include those as environmentally sensitive," Leming said.

Date published: 1/13/2004