10805 McQueen Road

Lusby,

Calvert County, Maryland

 

Lot 15, Grapevine Cove, 57.018 acres

$525,000  

Brokers/Agents Welcome

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Location:   Grapevine   Cove   is   located   in   the   Sollers’   Wharf   Farm  Community  near   the  Patuxent  River  at   the  headwaters  of  Grapevine  Cove  on  St.  Leonard  Creek.    The  property  is  only  2.5  miles  away  from  Maryland  Route  4,  making  a  very   easy   commute   north   to   the   Annapolis,   Baltimore,  and  Washington  metropolitan  areas.    The  fishing  village  and   yachting   center   of   Solomon’s   Island   is   a   scant   6  miles  away  by  road,  and  it  is  only  14  miles  to  the  main  gate  at  Naval  Air  Station  Patuxent  River.    From  the  head  of  the  cove,  it  is  a  short  run  by  boat  to  the  mouth  of  the  Patuxent  River  and  the  rich  fishing  and  sailing  grounds  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay.  

   Sollers’  Wharf  Farm  Community     Grapevine   Cove   is   located   in   the   Sollers’  

Wharf   Farm   Community,   a   unique   area  within   Calvert  County  where  no  major  subdivisions  have  been  created  since   the   early   1970s.     In   this   community,   the   land  preservation   process   took   hold   in   1984  when   Preston  Farm,   located   nearby   on   Turner   Rd.,   was   enrolled   in  Calvert   County’s   Agricultural   Land   Preservation  Program.     Since   1984,   any   significant   farm   properties  located   within   the   community   were   purchased   and  placed  in  Ag  Preservation  if  they  were  offered  for  sale.  

    Over   time,   the   owners   of   every   other   farm   in   the  

community  with   significant   subdivision   potential   have  enrolled   their   properties   in   the   Ag   Preservation  Program.    In  2010,  Calvert  Farmland  Trust,  a  local  non-­‐profit   land   trust,   was   instrumental   in   assisting   in   the  protection   and   preservation   of   the   last   major  unprotected   farm   within   the   Sollers’   Wharf   Farm  Community  

    A  number  of  these  properties  have  changed  hands  over  

the   course   of   the   last   35   years.     Many   others   are   still  owned   by   the   descendants   of   the   same   families   that  acquired   these   lands   in   colonial   times.     Due   to   the  stability   of   ownership  within   this   community,   and   the  large   degree   of   active   land   preservation   participation,  The  Sollers’  Wharf  Farm  Community  is  one  of  the  most  stable  rural  communities  within  Calvert  County.    Large  working   farms  and  well-­‐managed,  sustainable   tracts  of  woodland  are  predominant  here.    Other  smaller   farms,  woodland   parcels,   and   older   residential   lots   make   up  the  balance  of  the  community  

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Acreage:   Totaling  133  acres,  Grapevine  Cove   is  a  very  quiet  and  private   property   consisting   of   three   large   lots   and   a  buildable  residue.    Subdivided,  platted,  and  recorded  as  a   30-­‐lot   subdivision   by   its   previous   owner,   Grapevine  Cove  was  purchased  and  enrolled  in  the  Calvert  County  Agricultural   Land   Preservation   Program   in   1995.     The  30  lots  were  recombined  and  re-­‐platted  into  three  large  woodland   lots.     Lot   7   contains   16.059   acres.     Lot   15,  fronting   directly   on   the   head   of   Grapevine   Cove,  contains   57.018   acres.     Lot   22   contains   24.773   acres.    Also,   there   is   a   buildable   residue   containing   35.791  acres   that  has   frontage  on   the  head  of  Grapevine  Cove  next  to  Lot  15.    The  property  is  entirely  forested.    

   

     Improvements:   At  the  present  time,  the  property  is  unimproved  except  

for   an   old   road   leading   to   the   shoreline   of   Grapevine  Cove.     This   road   leads  directly   to   the  waters   edge   and  was   used   by   generations   of   watermen   who   sheltered  their   workboats   in   the   quiet,   protected   waters   of   the  narrow   cove.     In   fact,   looking   at   the   1938   aerial  photograph   of   the   property,   it   is   possible   to   see   small  workboats  at  their  moorings  in  the  cove.    The  depth  to  which  the  old  roadbed  has  worn  down  between  the  hills  leading   to   the   cove   is   silent  witness   to   the  many   trips  made   by   those   watermen   delivering   their   catches   of  fish,  crabs  and  oysters  to  the  local  markets.  

 

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  The   presence   of   this   existing   road   is   currently   a  tremendous  asset,  allowing  safe  and  easy  access   to   the  waters   edge   and   to   any  new  piers,   docks   or   launching  ramps  that  might  be  built  here.  

   

     

Ag.  Preservation:   Grapevine   Cove   is   enrolled   in   the   Calvert   County  Agricultural   Land  Preservation  Program.    According   to  the   protections   afforded   to   the   property   by   the   Rules  and   Regulations   of   The   Agricultural   Preservation  Program,   no   other   additional   residential   lots   may   be  subdivided  and  created  at  Grapevine  Cove.      

   Forest  Management:   The   property   is   subject   to   a   voluntary   Forest  

Management   Plan.     The   plan   is   revocable   and  may   be  changed   or   modified   at   any   time   to   reflect   the  management   goals   of   the   owner.     The   property   is   not  subject   to   a   Forest   Conservation   Management  Agreement  with  the  State  of  Maryland.  

 

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  Throughout   much   of   its   history   the   property   was  owned,   managed,   and   carefully   harvested   by   several  local   lumber   companies.     The   last   harvest   of   pine  pulpwood   from   the   property   took   place   around   1980.    The   timber   on   the   property   has   regenerated   and   the  property   is   once   again   a   mature   woodland,   rich   in  wildlife  and  ready  for  new  owners.  

   

     Taxes:   Grapevine   Cove   receives   an   “Agricultural   Use  

Assessment”   from   the  Calvert   County  Assessors  Office,  which   reduces   the   property   tax   liability   on   the   entire  property.     In   addition,   since   Grapevine   Cove   is   an  Agricultural  Land  Preservation  District,  a  Property  Tax  Credit   is   applied   to   the   agricultural   portion   of   the  property   tax   bill.     The   combined   results   of   these   two  programs   significantly   reduce   the   property   taxes   on  Grapevine  Cove.    The  only  significant  property  taxes  are  generated   by   any   non-­‐agricultural   improvements  located   on   the   property   and   a   one-­‐acre   home-­‐site.     In  2011   the   total   property   tax   bill   for   all   of   the   lots   at  Grapevine  Cove  was    

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Schools:   The  Calvert  County  Board  of  Education  operates  a  five-­‐star  school  system.    According  to  statistics  published  by  the  National  Center  for  Education  Statistics,  U.S.  Dept  of  Education,   and   the   Maryland   State   Department   of  Education,   the  Calvert   County   Public   Schools   are   the  highest   rated   public   school   system   in   the   State   of  Maryland.     Grapevine   Cove   is   served   by   Dowell  Elementary   School,   Mill   Creek   Middle   School,   and  Patuxent  High  School.  

   Commuting  Distances:   Extremely   close   to   Solomon’s   Island,   and   Naval   Air  

Station   Patuxent   River,   Grapevine   Cove   is   within  reasonable  commuting  distance  of  Annapolis,  Baltimore  and  Washington,  D.C.  

    Solomon’s  Island            6  miles     NAS  Patuxent  River  (main  gate)     14  miles     Annapolis   Rt.  2  and  West  Street     48  miles     Baltimore   Baltimore  Beltway    I-­‐695   67  miles     Baltimore   Downtown       75  miles     Washington   Capital  Beltway      I-­‐95   46  miles     Washington   Downtown       57  miles      Wildlife:   Grapevine  Cove  provides  significant  wildlife  habitat  for  

whitetail   deer   and   eastern   wild   turkey,   both   of   which  are   found   in   significant   numbers   on   the   property.     In  addition,   many   other   species   of   forest-­‐dwelling   birds  and  mammals  inhabit  the  property.    Waterfowl,  wading  birds   and   osprey   can   often   be   seen   in   the   cove   as   red  tail   hawks   and   American   bald   eagles   regularly   soar  overhead.      

    An  interesting  aside  to  the  history  of  Grapevine  Cove  is  

the   existence   of   a   children’s   book   entitled   A   Fox   Tale,  written  by  local  resident  Alan  Sollers.    The  book  tells  the  story  of  some  young  boys  who  skipped  class  at  the  local  one-­‐room   schoolhouse   that   is   still   standing   at   the  intersection  of  Mill  Bridge  Road  and  Sollers  Wharf  Road.    The   boys   followed   the   progress   of   local   farmers   who  were   on   a   foxhunt   with   their   hounds   and   they  witnessed   the   fox   eluding   the   hounds   by   hiding   in   the  waters   of   Rollins   Cove   beneath   a   fallen   and   partially  submerged   tree.     In   its  modern  mapping  work,  Calvert  County  government  has  confused  and  interchanged  the  

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names   of   Rollins   Cove   and   Grapevine   Cove.     The   true  story,  A  Fox  Tale  was  written  about  what  is  now  known  as  Grapevine  Cove.    

   

 Tidal  Marsh  at  Grapevine  Cove  

   Additional  Comments:   Grapevine  Cove  is  a  rare  and  unique  property  on  today’s  

real  estate  market.    Few  large  waterfront  lots  affording  a  high  degree  of  privacy  along  with  such  well-­‐protected  waters  remain  available  to  the  discriminating  buyer.    It  is  even  more  rare  to  find  a  property  such  as  this  where  there  is  not  an  existing  house  that  needs  to  be  repaired,  remodeled,   expanded   or   even   removed   to   reflect   and  accommodate  the  taste  and  lifestyle  of  the  new  buyer.      

      For   those   seeking   a   simpler,   rural   lifestyle   with  

sustainability   and   self-­‐sufficiency   in   mind,   Grapevine  Cove  is  the  perfect  spot.    The  well-­‐managed  woodlands  of   Grapevine   Cove  will   continue   to   provide   significant  wildlife  habitat  while  yielding  merchantable  timber   for  sale  or  for  use  on  the  property,  as  well  as  a  sustainable  supply   of   valuable   firewood   for   personal   use.    Numerous   sites   on   the   property   are   suitable   for  

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alternative  energy  production  through  the  use  of  either  solar  or  wind  power,  and  Calvert  County’s  underground  aquifers   provide   a   sustainable   source   for   geothermal  heating   and   cooling.     Although   entirely   wooded   at  present,   many   areas   of   deep   loamy   soils   could   be  cleared   to   create   fertile   garden   plots   or   pastures   for  domestic   livestock   or   riding   horses.     The   many  opportunities   offered   by   the   pristine   setting   at  Grapevine  Cove   are   limited   only   by   the   imagination   of  the  buyer  

   Additional  Acreage:   In   addition   to   Lot   15,   the   two   adjacent   lots,   Lot   7   and  

Lot  22,  as  well  as  the  35-­‐acre  buildable  residue  are  also  available  for  sale.    Each  of  these  large  lots  are  recorded  among   the   land   records   of   Calvert   County.     Approved  percolation   test   results   are   available   from   the   Calvert  County  Health   Department.     Although   these   are   larger  than  average  lots,  each  lot  is  allowed  only  one  approved  primary  home-­‐site  and  cannot  be  re-­‐subdivided.    

   Farm  Tenant  Houses:   Subject   to   the  provisions   of   the  Calvert   County   Zoning  

Ordinance,  an  agricultural  lot  or  parcel  greater  than  25  acres   in   size   may   be   eligible   for   construction   of   one  farm   tenant   house   per   25   acres.     With   respect   to  Grapevine   Cove,   the   Seller   makes   no   warranties   or  representations,   implied   or   otherwise,   with   respect   to  potential  secondary  or  tenant  house  sites.    It  is  entirely  the   obligation  of   the  buyer   to   investigate   the  potential  of   this   provision   of   the   Zoning   Ordinance   as   it   may  pertain  to  these  particular  properties.      

   Prices:   Lot  7,  Grapevine  Cove             16.059  acres     $225,000.00       Lot  15,  Grapevine  Cove     waterfront      

      57.018  acres     $525,000.00       Lot  22,  Grapevine  Cove                 24.773  acres     $275,000.00       Residue,  Grapevine  Cove   waterfront             35.79  acres     $375,000.00    

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 Seller:   Grapevine  Cove  is  offered  for  sale  by  owner.     Please  contact:    

John  T.  Crane,  Jr.  1470  Turner  Road  

Lusby,  Maryland    20657    

Phone      410-­326-­4880  FAX      410-­326-­3023  Cell      410-­610-­8098  

 jtcrane@comcast.net  

   

Links  for  Additional  Information:   The   following   agencies   have   a   wealth   of  information   for   the   purchaser   of   agricultural   land   in  Calvert  County,  Maryland.    Their   links  can  be   found  on  the  Calvert  Farms  and  Land  homepage.  

 Calvert  County  Department  of  Planning  and  Zoning  

 Calvert  Soil  Conservation  District  

 Calvert  County  Extension  Office  

 Calvert  County  Health  Department  

 Maryland  State  Department  of  Assessments  and  Taxation  

   

 Lot  15,  Grapevine  Cove  

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 Lot  15,  Grapevine  Cove