This chinkapin oak tree is part of
the stunning mature hardwood forest found on Crow's Nest.
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Why
do we want to save Crow’s Nest?
There are a number of reasons why we believe it is important to save
Crow’s Nest…and why development in Crow’s Nest should be opposed.
Some of them are listed below.
Reasons
to Save Crow's Nest
1.
Quality
of Life. Stafford
County’s rural character has offered its residents a unique quality
of life. But in recent
years, dramatic growth in population and increased development has
been eroding the county’s traditional community life.
Stafford should balance the need for change with the need to
preserve its quality of life. Saving
Crow’s Nest is part of maintaining what makes Stafford County
unique.
2.
Recreation.
Crow’s Nest provides Virginia residents with an exceptional
recreational opportunity. Canoeing,
hiking, bird-watching, hunting, and fishing are all enhanced by the
maintenance of Crow’s Nest in its undeveloped state.
In our bustling, fast-paced world, Crow’s Nest provides an
invaluable quiet space for people to relax and reflect with family and
friends.
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3.
Wildlife
and Environment. Crow’s
Nest is good for the region’s wildlife, providing a substantial
tract of land that supports a wide variety of birds and other animals.
The forests and shores of Crow’s Nest are also a treasure
trove of trees, flowers, and other plants.
It is important to save all
of Crow’s Nest because, together, its components make up a valuable
ecosystem. Destroying one
part of this system will have devastating consequences for all of it,
including the wildlife. (See a list of some of the birds
and plants on Crow's Nest, prepared by the US Fish and Wildlife
Service.)
4.
History.
Crow’s Nest is the site of Native American settlements, Civil War
encampments, and the birthplace of noted Virginia leaders.
In a state with a well-known respect for its history, Crow’s
Nest is another significant historical site. (See more details
about the cultural resources on Crow's Nest.)
5.
The
Future. Crow’s Nest
can’t be replaced. If
development is allowed on the peninsula, our generation will have
destroyed a natural resource that has distinguished this region for
countless centuries. Once
it is developed, we can’t go back.
Future generations will never know the beauty of Crow’s Nest.
Reasons
to Oppose Development in Crow's Nest
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Absentee
Corporate Owners. The
residents of Stafford County have a right to determine what happens to
their community. Those
rights should take precedence over the quest for excessive profits on
the part of absentee corporate owners.
We live here. We
will have to bear the consequences of development in Crow’s Nest
long after the outside corporate developers are gone.
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Traffic.
New housing brings new traffic.
The winding two-lane roads of the Crow’s Nest peninsula will
become clogged with the introduction of a large number of housing
units.
-
Taxes.
New housing brings new residents who, in turn, need County
services. More demand for
schools, roads, emergency services, and public water and sewer will
cost the County money that will have to be raised through higher
taxes.
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Larger
classroom sizes. Our schools
are already busting at the seams. More housing units mean more
children, with fewer teachers, aides and guidance counselors per
student.
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Environmental
degradation. Development disturbs the soil, sometimes leading to
soil erosion. Soil erosion can lead to sedimentation of creeks. Algae
blooms; water ph levels rise. Fish die.
Crow’s Nest is a vibrant ecosystem that needs to remain
undeveloped.
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Lower
emergency response times. More people mean more emergencies and
longer wait times for fire trucks and ambulances to arrive.
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Crime.
More people bring increased crime. Our public safety officers are
already having a difficult time keeping up with increased law
enforcement demands.
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