Late last night Stafford supervisors came out of closed session and voted 6-0 to condemn the environmentally sensitive Crow's Nest peninsula.
The process requires taking the owner, K&M Properties of McLean, to court. The company planned to put 688 homes on 3,230 acres.
County officials offered to pay $30.5 million for the land in May. The developers response to that proposal and specific details about the condemnation process were not clear at press time. The developer's attorney, Clark Leming, could not be reached for comment.
Supervisor Paul Milde, whose district includes Crow's Nest, said he has mixed feelings about condemning the peninsula.
"It's not the route the board would have preferred," he said.
He considered condemnation a last resort, he said. But the board's action last night is proof of how serious the county is about preserving the peninsula.
Crow's Nest activists have been urging the county to save the peninsula since other options at the state level fell through. Cecilia Kirkman, founder of the Save Crow's Nest preservation group, said last night she was delighted.
"It's unfortunate that the owners of the property have apparently been unable to negotiate in good faith, and it is good to see the Board of Supervisors taking this positive step," she said.
To reach MEGHANN COTTER:
Email: mcotter@freelancestar.com