Kent Island Estates receives open space funding following lot sale

CENTREVILLE — Through the sale proceeds of unbuildable lots in the Kent Island Estates Community, Queen Anne’s County Commissioners donated $17,508.90 to the Kent Island Estates Community Association. The funds are to be used for infrastructure and open space improvement and new playground equipment at the community’s public beach property on Queen Anne Road.

During the southern Kent Island Phase one sewer project, surplus vacant lots deemed too small or environmentally sensitive for development were donated to the county for tax write off, according to Dave MacGlashan, county property manager.

Sewer services were removed and these lots were then sold to adjacent property owners, he said.

As the lots were located at the estates, the commissioners previously approved giving the money back to Kent Island Estates.

Additional space was necessary at Kent Island Estates, which was not designed with open space in mind when developed in the 1950s, county commissioner Chris Corchiarino noted.

“Residents can’t go anywhere else to have open space, they have to go up to North County,” Kent Island Estates Community Association President Bill Doucet said.

With about 829 homes, Kent Island Estates is one of the largest communities on the island, according to Doucet.

Corchiarino considered it a win-win to provide space for community residents and receive tax revenue for the county.

The funding will be able to be utilized for infrastructure improvements right away without the need for fundraising, he said.