A blue heron at Crow's Nest. Some Stafford supervisors want a referendum on a bond issue to buy and preserve the tract.

Some Stafford supervisors want a referendum on floating bonds to buy and preserve ecologically sensitive peninsula.

By RUTH FINCH

Date published: 2/28/2004

The preservation of Crow's Nest may be up for a countywide vote if some Stafford County supervisors get their way.

At least three board members say they are considering having the county buy the 3,800-acre peninsula at the mouth of Potomac and Accokeek creeks. They want to finance the purchase through a special bond issue, which would have to be approved in a referendum.

The idea was first suggested to supervisors two weeks ago by a coalition of preservationists called Save Crow's Nest.

The group wants to preserve the ecology of the peninsula, which includes one of the last stands of virgin forest in the region and a large heron rookery. K&M Properties has been working on plans to develop the peninsula since negotiations to sell it to the state for a nature preserve fell through.

Save Crow's Nest leaders will hold their first planned meeting today to talk more about their ideas for preserving the peninsula. It is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Brooke Fire Station on the corner of Andrew Chapel and Brooke roads.

Supervisor Kandy Hilliard, whose district includes Crow's Nest, said she plans to be there. While she supports the idea of a referendum, she said she doesn't yet have a specific proposal to bring to the Save Crow's Nest meeting or to fellow supervisors at their meeting Tuesday.

"I feel like there is a certain amount of due diligence that has got to be done before I go forward with a specific proposal," she said.

The board has been sympathetic to the Save Crow's Nest cause since the group organized last month. All seven supervisors say they aren't giving up on efforts to preserve the peninsula.

Though no detailed plan for how to prevent development of the land has been set forth, some supervisors have also talked about a land swap. Under that scenario, K&M would be offered an opportunity to rezone another tract elsewhere in the county to allow for the same kind of development slated at Crow's Nest.

Supervisor Mark Osborn said last week that he hoped to bring a resolution in support of a bond referendum to Tuesday's board meeting, but the issue does not appear on the agenda.

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Date published: 2/28/2004