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Gov. Larry Hogan remains committed to a proposed “land swap” that would turn nearly 2,500 acres of state parkland in Western Maryland over to the federal government.
Media outlets reported this week that Hogan has abandoned talks with Washington’s NFL team about building its next stadium on federal property in Prince George’s County, but the land deal remains alive.
Hogan spokeswoman Amelia Chasse said the administration is “moving full steam ahead” with the acquisition of the national parkland known as Oxon Cove Park in Prince George’s County.
She said the governor considers the property “truly the gateway to Maryland” with clear economic development, tourism and recreational use potential, in addition to its historical significance.
“We believe this site holds significant potential benefits for the region and the state, as does the proposal to expand protected federal parkland in Western Maryland,” Chasse wrote in an emailed statement. “We are working closely with our federal partners to finalize the transfer.”
In December, Hogan acknowledged negotiating a nonbinding land swap that could have cleared the way for a 60,000-seat stadium for the team.
The plan drew concern from people in Prince George’s County and Western Maryland alike, including surprised politicians and those worried about environmental and financial impacts.
The team currently plays at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
Hogan and then-U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke quietly signed the agreement in September 2017, stipulating the state would give up about 2,481 acres along South Mountain on the Washington-Frederick county line. In exchange, it would receive around 512 acres at Oxon Cove, a National Park Service property on the banks of the Potomac River just south of Washington, D.C.
The Department of the Interior’s side of the deal would include South Mountain State Battlefield, Gathland State Park and “some surrounding areas,” according to a copy of the nonbinding agreement.
It’s unclear the exact boundaries of the land in question. The agreement symbolizes the two governmental entities working together toward a land deal, but does not bind either to such. Any land exchange involving federal property would require congressional approval.
The plan prompted criticism from local preservation groups, such as the Central Maryland Heritage League.
“When you put land into preservation, it should be in perpetuity,” CMHL Vice President Audrey Scanlan-Teller said. “If you’re going to take a property from the federal government ... then turn around and sell it for development, that is not being a good land steward. It just sets a really bad precedent.”
“What’s to stop the federal government in 100 years from saying, ‘We’re not using the South Mountain land. Let’s open it up for development,’” she said. “That’s not land preservation. Just trading preserved land to be developed is wrong. It’s just wrong.”
Tom Clemens, president of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation, called it “very frustrating” that national historic gems, like South Mountain State Battlefield, are being used like “a pawn on a big chess board.”
“That just doesn’t show me the respect for the battlefield that it deserves,” he said.
Preservation is a constant battle against development and other interests, Clemens said. He recalled past proposals to run high-voltage power lines across Antietam National Battlefield that were met by opposition and ultimately defeated.
“As I like to say, when the preservationists win, it’s a holding action. When the developers win, it’s permanent,” Clemens said. “The preservation battle is one you have to keep fighting over and over and over.”
Asked about opposition from Western Marylanders, Chasse said she anticipates “widespread support” once full details about the proposed land swap are finalized and can be presented to the public.
“The administration’s vision for the Western Maryland portion of the land is an expansion of federal parkland connected to the Antietam National Battlefield, with the potential for increased federal investment,” she said. “Any final agreement would stipulate that current state parkland in Western Maryland must remain as parkland, which would ensure its preservation for future generations.”
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