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A blue heron at Crow's Nest. Some Stafford supervisors want a referendum on a bond issue |
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.
Supervisor Gary Snellings said he also supports having the county buy Crow's Nest, but only if voters agree in a referendum.
"This is too big of an issue for the supervisors to make a decision for the taxpayers," he said. "The taxpayers are the ones who are going to have to pay back whatever it is we pay for it."
When negotiations between K&M and state officials broke down, the price was around $30 million.
Representatives for Save Crow's Nest are urging supervisors to support holding a special election as soon as possible.
They don't want to wait until the next regular election Nov. 2 because they fear some of the forest could be lost to logging by then. And they don't want a bond vote overshadowed by the race for president.
"Proposing a county referendum to be held during a national presidential election nearly guarantees the bond will be defeated," the organization said in a prepared statement. "Genuine support for saving Crow's Nest means supporting an immediate special election to give this unique local Stafford issue the attention it deserves."
If the board passes a resolution supporting a referendum, a circuit judge would then have to authorize the election and set a date.
In 2001, the last time Stafford had a bond referendum, voters solidly endorsed borrowing $11 million for parks and recreation facilities.
To reach RUTH FINCH: 540/720-1622 rfinch@freelancestar.com
