This chinkapin oak tree is part of the stunning mature hardwood forest found on Crow's Nest.

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.

 

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Lower emergency response times. More people mean more emergencies and longer wait times for fire trucks and ambulances to arrive.

  7. Crime. More people bring increased crime. Our public safety officers are already having a difficult time keeping up with increased law enforcement demands.