New! State buys Jesuit lands in St. Mary's

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009

The Maryland Board of Public Works approved Wednesday the purchase of 4,474 acres of land from the Corporation of the Roman Catholic Clergyman for $56.9 million, including two properties in St. Mary's County. The peninsulas of Newtowne Neck, 776 acres, and Kitts Point, 985 acres, were part of the sale. The other properties are in Charles and Cecil counties.

The intent of the purchase is to preserve the land as open space. The purchase includes more than 19 miles of Potomac River waterfront, extensive wildlife habitat and historic ties to the state's first colonial settlement at St. Mary's City.

"This transaction underscores our unwavering commitment to using dedicated Program Open Space funds to protect our most important landscapes," Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) said in a statement. "Despite this challenging fiscal climate, it remains our responsibility to preserve the natural treasures we hold in trust of our future generations."

"The acquisition of properties within the lands of the Maryland Province is a significant achievement both in terms of land conservation and in preventing encroachment at two adjacent military facilities," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) said in a statement, including Navy installation at Webster Field in St. Inigoes.

Kitts Point is south of Webster Field on the shores of the St. Mary's River and Newtowne Neck Road is south of Compton between the Breton and St. Clement bays.

jbabcock@somdnews.com