Stafford County officials filed paperwork yesterday to condemn Crow's Nest.
The Board of Supervisors voted in June to pursue condemnation of 2,887 acres of the environmentally sensitive peninsula for park land, but no further action had been taken until yesterday.
Supervisor Paul Milde, whose Aquia District includes Crow's Nest, said county officials have been moving as quickly as they could to preserve the land.
"We want to get this taken care of," he said. "We can't afford to have any logging done, roads cut, relics taken, anymore than we have to."
In recent weeks, controversy around Crow's Nest has intensified, after relic hunters briefly searched the property before the landowners said they hadn't given permission. Sheriff's deputies asked the hunters to leave.
Also, a judge ruled earlier this month that clearing and digging done onsite, to begin testing the property for drain fields, was appropriate and did not require county permits or fees.
County officials and the landowners have long debated the future of Crow's Nest. K&M Properties of McLean, developing the land as Stafford Lakes Limited Partnership, planned to put 688 homes on 3,230 acres. Stafford Lakes and Stafford-based Garrett Development Corp. are being served in the case.
Two county officials and another source familiar with Crow's Nest details have said for months that Garrett has contracted to buy land from K&M and give it to the county in exchange for a rezoning of land Garrett owns in the Widewater area.
County officials have offered to buy the 2,887 acres for $33.2 million. Clark Leming, who represents the landowners, has said his clients believe the land is worth $60 million.
"We figured it was coming," Leming said. "We're sorry that the county has gone this route, but we're not surprised."
Leming said his clients sent a number of proposals to the county but hadn't heard any response, so they were anticipating yesterday's action.
Activist Cecilia Kirkman, founder of Save Crow's Nest, said yesterday's filing was a result of citizen action and puts them a step closer to their goal of preserving the peninsula.
"It's unfortunate that Stafford Lakes was not willing to negotiate in good faith," she said. "Under these circumstances, this really was the right thing for the Board of Supervisors to do."
Stafford spokeswoman Cathy Riddle said the delay between the June vote and the filing yesterday was because county officials were still trying to negotiate a deal that would avoid condemnation.
"This is a last resort," she said. "Nobody wanted to do this, but the supervisors really understand the importance of that piece of property."
Riddle said the relic hunting and drain field ruling didn't prompt the filing yesterday.
"It's not in response to that specific incident," she said.
A county news release says the paperwork will be served on the property owners in the next few weeks. Once served, the owners have 21 days to respond.
After that, Leming said both sides likely will hire appraisers to determine the property's value. A judge or jury would then decide a price, which the county would be required to pay before seizing the land.
"Ultimately in a condemnation suit, what it's all about is how much the property is worth," Leming said.
To reach MAYA RAO:
Email: mrao@freelancestar.com
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Nest developments The latest: Stafford County filed paperwork yesterday to condemn Crow's Nest for a public park. What happens next: Papers will be served on the property owners in the next few weeks. They have 21 days to respond to the filing. Condemnation process: Both sides likely will hire appraisers to assess the land's value. A judge or jury will set a final price. |