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ARTICLES - The Capital

GROUP RALLIES TO SAVE LAND

By David Abrams, Staff Writer

(published December 3, 2004)

Annapolis Roads residents are on pace to raise $500,000 by early next week to jumpstart the purchase of neighborhood land and protect it from development.

But even organizers admit their last-minute bid to raise $2 million will not convince the owners of Ogleton Woods and the nine-hole Annapolis Golf Club to sell.

"It ain't money that's going to win this battle," said resident Stan Samorajczyk.

The homeowners want to show they are a "credible buyer" to preserve the 70-acre course off Carrollton Road, the 33-acre woods and other small parcels they say are "under attack."

About 150 people came to a meeting of the Annapolis Roads Property Owners Association last night to learn more about the effort. They were encouraged to give money, and lots of it.

"We are here, we are united," said Geri Nicholson, a member of the association board who is organizing the fund-raising effort. "We are together, and we can fight this."

If the group raises another $80,000 by noon on Monday, Ms. Nicholson said, a group of wealthy benefactors who live in the community have pledged to match their $250,000.

After learning of a plan to develop the land, the homeowners hastily organized a house party on Nov. 21 and raised $171,000 in one night.

Next, the homeowners will race to raise $1 million in the next two months to reach their ultimate goal of $2 million or more.

Ribera Development, led by Davidsonville developer John Stamato, has a contract to buy Ogleton Woods and build as many as 48 houses on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula tract.

Mr. Samato is negotiating a deal with St. Mary's Church to buy the adjoining golf course and turn it into ballfields and an athletic complex for the parish school.

Another company wants to build three houses on one of the smaller parcels.

Representatives of Ribera did not return calls for comment.

In a written statement, the Archdiocese of Baltimore said the church has not signed a deal yet or hired an engineer to determine how many fields the property can accommodate.

Sean Caine, a spokesman for the archdiocese, also said that there have been no discussions with The Key School in Hillsmere or other schools to share the fields, as residents have claimed.

"St. Mary's has been a good neighbor and an important part of the civic fabric of Annapolis for 150 years, " Mr. Caine said. "The volunteer work and generosity of its ministers, parishioners and the school's students are widely acknowledged."

Mr. Samorajczyk said the owners of the wooded properties, BankAnnapolis Chairman and CEO Richard M. Lerner and golf course owner George Graefe III have refused to entertain offers from Annapolis Roads residents to buy the land.

Even if they did, Mr. Samorajczyk said, the price would be well in excess of $2 million when calculating the value including new homes.

He told residents that if they win a legal fight to block the development, the money will put them in position to buy the land from the developer at a much lower price.

Mr. Samorajczyk's wife, Barbara, represents the district on the County Council. An ethics ruling prevents her from commenting on the issue because her property values could be affected by the proposed development.

Mr. Graefe declined comment.

This morning, Mr. Lerner said he purchased the land five years ago as a private citizen, and the homeowners have never talked to him about buying it. Although they said they wanted to have the property appraised and conduct an engineering study, Mr. Lerner said no one ever followed up.

Ogleton Woods is currently owned by Lake Ogleton Associates, a holding company in which Mr. Lerner is one of two investors. He said it would be "unethical" for him to entertain offers with any parties now that the property is under contract.

"It's as if you were to have sold your car to somebody and somebody else wants to talk to you about buying that car," he said. "It's already been sold."

The homeowner's association has hired land-use attorney Harry Blumenthal and have set aside $100,000 in their budget to pay legal fees.

Mr. Samorajczyk said Ribera plans to have the golf course annexed by the city to allow for more development than the county would permit.

Ogleton Woods would then become part of the city and be subject to less-restrictive zoning rules, he said.

Ogleton Woods can't be annexed without first adding the golf course because the course is between the woods and the city limits. No application has been filed with the city to annex.

"It doesn't have much value if it's not the golden sidewalk," Mr. Samorajczyk said, referring to the golf course.

Residents fear that the church is planning to build five athletic fields, including one that is lighted and three with artificial turf, as well as a gymnasium and athletic facility, and possibly even a school in the future.

Some residents at last night's meeting said they would pull money out of Annapolis-based BankAnnapolis, and hold back cash for the collection basket at St. Mary's to send a message.

They also complained that the church would not explain its plans to parishioners.

"We think that if we are united and effective, we can convince St. Mary's that they don't want to be in our backyard," said Mr. Samorajczyk, a St. Mary's parishioner.