|
|
||
Supervisors increase offer on Crow's Nest; questions linger about condemnation plans. Date published: 9/7/2006 By MEGHANN COTTER
By MEGHANN COTTER
Stafford County's supervisors have upped their offer on the Crow's Nest peninsula by $2.7 million. Board members made that decision late Tuesday night, after learning that an updated appraisal showed the tract is worth $33.2 million. The updated appraisal, returned Aug. 21, was ordered to ensure the county's offer was fair market value. It authorizes the county attorney to file condemnation paperwork if it appears a deal cannot be reached. Some see the new offer as an inconsequential move in the campaign to buy 2,887 of the tract's total 3,800 acres for a public park. "What we see happening [Tuesday] night is simply a formality in the process of getting the offer in line with the appraisal," attorney Clark Leming, who represents K&M Properties--the owner of Crow's Nest, said yesterday. His client wants to cash in on its long-term investment by building houses on the peninsula or getting fair compensation for not doing so, he has said previously. K&M has hired its own appraiser, and believes it can prove a $60 million land value. But the supervisors' decision to increase their offer on Crow's Nest has raised questions about how ready the county is to pursue condemnation. In May, officials asked K&M to sell its land for $30.5 million, $3.5 million more than the original appraisal. A month later supervisors voted to start the condemnation process because the McLean developer had responded only with questions, rather than an answer. County officials have not yet petitioned the court to condemn the land. And financial options for buying the peninsula are still vague. Officials have access to a $10 million low-interest loan. State agencies originally set aside another $10 million for the purchase, as well. But at least some of that money is unavailable if the land is obtained through condemnation. Mike Nardolilli, president of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, said the $500,000 state grant his organization secured would not be available under those circumstances. State agencies prefer to support voluntary purchase of land, he said. He points out, however, that the money could be used to protect Crow's Nest land that's not a part of what the county plans to condemn. That includes an inland strip closest to the heron rookery, which his group owns.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
|
|
|||||||||||||
