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ACTION
AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
Tuesday,
January 20, 2004
"Refuge Proposal Dies." That startling headline appeared
on the January 9, 2004 front page of The Free Lance-Star. (See
story.) For most people, it was the first time they heard that
K&M Properties, the largest landowner on the peninsula, had broken off
negotiations with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
and the Trust for Crow's Nest.
Instead of selling the land to the State of Virginia for preservation,
K&M was now talking about developing portions of Crow's Nest into
high-density "cluster housing." |
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Featuring an American bald eagle (which nest in
Crow's Nest) and the e-mail address for Save Crow's Nest, this bright
placard was worn by the dozens of supporters at the Board of Supervisors
meeting.
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Only days after this story was made public,
"Save Crow's Nest" was born and over 60 people attended the
Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting to express their concern to the
Board. (See The
Free Lance-Star story
on our formation and this first action.) Many people wore green to
show their support and most wore a bright green placard calling for the
Board to "Save Crow's Nest."
During the public comment period, 21 people spoke out to make their views
known to the Board. They called for the Board to redouble their
efforts to ensure the protection of Crow's Nest. They also called
into question the reappointment of attorney Clark Leming to the County's
Utilities Commission. Since Mr. Leming represents K&M
Properties, speakers raised the possible appearance of a conflict of
interest if he also sat on a commission whose decisions could impact the
future of Crow's Nest. (See The
Free Lance-Star
story on Clark Leming.)
The Board of Supervisors expressed support for saving Crow's Nest.
Several wore our placards during the comment period. Supervisor Gary
Pash hung the placard from his podium microphone.
The remarkable
turnout and heartfelt comments about Crow's Nest reflected a general sense
of disappointment and anger at K&M Properties' abandonment of the
negotiations to sell their property. The action also
clearly announced that there was no "done deal." The people of
Virginia will fight to save Crow's Nest!
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"You can count on us to stand by you and support Crow's Nest.
Each and every one of us is supportive of the whole project.
Whatever you do, don't accept defeat. Do battle here and do your
best to save this."
---Jack
Cavalier, Chairman of the Stafford Board of Supervisors
January
20, 2004 |
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Aquia
District County Supervisor Kandy Hilliard (left photo) and
Garrisonville
District County Supervisor Gary Pash (right in right photo) show their
support for saving Crow's Nest.
When
it comes to development "we need to draw a line in the sand and
that line is Crow's Nest"
--a
citizen speaking at the Board meeting |
