Kent Riverfront
Forging a Win-Win Between Development and Conservation
155 Acres
of Preserved Open Space
Public and Private Sectors Unified
$0 Direct Cost
to County Taxpayers
The Challenge: Nature at Risk
Queen Anne's County, Maryland, a beautiful rural area on the Chesapeake Bay, was facing an existential threat. The immense pressure of urban sprawl from the nearby DC/Annapolis metro area was driving rapid, resource-intensive residential development, threatening the county's sensitive coastal ecosystems and its cherished rural character. The situation was a classic land-use conflict, pitting the forces of economic growth against the critical need for environmental conservation.
The county needed more than just a new plan or another set of regulations. It needed a trusted, neutral third party to act as a strategic intermediary—a partner who could bring private developers and the local government to the same table and find a way for development to occur in a smarter, more responsible, and harmonious way.
Our Solution: Cooperative Collaboration
Our role in this project was not that of a traditional designer, but of a diplomat and a strategic deal-maker. We worked on a project-by-project basis with private developers to find the "win-win" solutions that would allow them to build successful projects while simultaneously enhancing the county's natural and recreational assets.
Instead of creating a restrictive, top-down plan, we focused on negotiation and collaboration. We crafted detailed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) that created mutual benefit for everyone involved.
We successfully negotiated for the inclusion of new public trail systems and open space preserves within private developments that connected to existing county parks—a move that expanded public recreation at no cost to the taxpayer and increased the property values for the developer.
We designed ecologically sensitive and publicly accessible docks on the Chesapeake Bay within new developments, protecting the environment and increasing river access to current county residents while allowing developers to market responsible, premium products.
“Public access to Queen Anne’s County’s natural resources, including its waterways, is intrinsic to promoting commerce, tourism, and quality of life for every resident.”
Annie Richards, Chester Riverkeeper (5/6/22)
The Outcomes: A New Model for Responsible Growth
Our work as a trusted, neutral third party transformed a contentious situation into a series of collaborative victories. We proved that development and conservation don't have to be opposing forces.
Successfully mediated between the public and private sectors to allow for responsible, harmonious development in a high-pressure environment.
Negotiated for the creation of new community assets, including miles of new public trails, 155 acres of preserved open space, and access docks at no direct cost to the county.
Established a new, collaborative model for win-win development that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship, a model that continues to guide development in the region.
