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Part of the Widewater peninsula has been designated as a park, but nearby Crow's Nest is in limbo. |
It's the tale of two Stafford County peninsulas.
One, Widewater, is situated to the north between the Potomac River and Aquia Creek.
The other, Crow's Nest, is nestled to the south between Potomac and Accokeek creeks.
Both are known for their historical and environmental value. Preservation of both has been at the top of the state government's priority list since about 2001. And both have spent the last several years in the midst of hot legal and political battles regarding proposed development.
The difference is that Widewater has now been preserved as a state park, while Crow's Nest is getting closer to being developed.
A willing sellerJoe Maroon, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, said the reason for that can be summed up in two words: "willing seller."
Dominion Lands--the former real-estate development arm of Dominion power company--was very cooperative during the negotiations, he said, which enabled them to arrange a bargain sale.
Gov. Mark Warner signed a deed last week conveying 1,100 acres of the rural Widewater peninsula to the state for $6.1 million. Appraisals of the property had put the value at between $8.8 and $11.2 million.
Maroon said his agency's conversations with K&M Properties, which owns much of the Crow's Nest land, have been much different.
"We've had a very difficult time distinguishing what the price tag is for Crow's Nest," he said. "The state and locality would like to do the whole peninsula, it is just a question of money and whether we can put together a deal that makes sense."
The state has tried to buy the land in pieces to defray costs. Since 2004, Maroon's group, in collaboration with other organizations, has put two offers on the table for 1,500 acres on the tip of the nearly 4,000-acre peninsula. But a deal could not be reached.
Maroon would not comment on specific dollar figures. He did say the offers were based on the property's appraised market value, not a bargain price.
Crucial circumstancesWhile the two properties have similar environmental characteristics, said K&M's attorney Clark Leming, the sellers in each case are very different.
Dominion, which decided to get out of the land development business in the late '90s, bought its tract in the 1940s. K&M, a McLean business that earns revenue from its real-estate efforts, made its purchase in the early 1990s.
Land was much more expensive in the '90s than it was in the '40s, Leming said. He argues that that put Dominion in a much better position to agree to a bargain price than K&M. And K&M owns nearly three times what Dominion did.
He said his client is not unwilling to sell the land. The company just wants to cash in on its long-term investment.
"It has to be done in a way that K&M gets the benefit of the bargain," he said.
The last contract on the land came two years ago. Toll Brothers, a national home builder based in Pennsylvania, offered $50 million.
The county recently requested an appraisal on the property, which came back yesterday. County Attorney Joe Howard would not comment on what the results were because of pending negotiations.
Calling out the cavalryMeanwhile, state agencies are working to arrange the funding and future plans for the Widewater park, and continuing efforts to turn Crow's Nest into a nature preserve.
"We still have options available," said Jack Cavalier, vice chairman of the Stafford Board of Supervisors. "I want to emphasize that just because we got one doesn't mean we don't deserve another. I think we can have both wins."
County officials have talked with some area developers about a density swap--which would move permitted housing on Crow's Nest to another less environmentally valuable parcel. And supervisors are still talking with state groups about the possibility of buying the tract from K&M.
"[Crow's Nest] is a very expensive parcel, and we are going to need outside-of-the-county help," Cavalier said. "We certainly want to go after this with all the effort we used for Widewater, and more."
So far, at least $20 million has been committed from state and local sources for the purchase of the land.
But some people are worried that those dollars may begin to dwindle if it takes too much longer to secure a sale.
"The clock certainly is still ticking," Maroon said. "We've held onto that money. But at some point in the future those funds will no long be able to remain in the kitty."
New Aquia District Supervisor Paul Milde, whose district includes Crow's Nest, said the board has been dragging its feet for too long on committing to a strategy.
"That is going to kill us in this deal. I'm not suggesting let's not be patient and explore all of our options. I can make this deal work," he said. "Anyone waiting for the cavalry to come charging out of Richmond to take care of this property is going to be disappointed."
Milde said that now that the appraisal is back, a deal should follow soon.
"If I had my way, we'd have this wrapped up by the end of the year," he said. "It comes down to whether the board supports it."
To reach MEGHANN COTTER:
Email: mcotter@freelancestar.com
