Feather for The Nest

January 6, 2006 12:50 am

Tops on the agenda

LEGALLY CHALLENGING the development of Stafford County's naturally splendid Crow's Nest peninsula on all plausible grounds is probably a good strategy in a state where private-property rights are strong (as they should be) and Big Development isn't shy about exploiting them.

The strategy bore minor fruit the other day when a panel of the Virginia Supreme Court upheld a Stafford County Circuit Court ruling that limits the number of homes McLean developer K&M Properties can build on one section of the property. Several such victories--this one still could be upended by the full state Supreme Court--may cut into K&M's profit margin sufficiently, when coupled with drawn-out litigation, to persuade it to deal with those who would preserve Crow's Nest.

But courtroom skirmishing alone is only half a plan. At the same time, the federal government should be plumbed for funds that would go toward safeguarding this pristine treasure of Stafford, the commonwealth, and the Mid-Atlantic region. Together with private money and funds already committed by Stafford and the state, this could entice K&M to serious negotiation and a fixed selling price. The new year should begin a redoubling of efforts to save timeless Crow's Nest.