Former Stone Haven Developers Threaten to Prosecute Trespassers; Plan Electrified Fence

The owners of the former Stone Haven development are concerned for the safety of those who are illegally using their property for recreation, including hunting. Photo submitted by Edy Rameika from onsite security camera

To combat the increasing problem of individuals trespassing on their property, the owners of the once-proposed Stone Haven development in Bristow will prosecute trespassers and plan to install an electrified fence around the perimeter of the property.

The owners originally sought to build a 1,650 home community on 864 acres south of Wellington Road. The Rameikas abandoned the project after failing to win support from the Board of County Supervisors in December.

"My husband and I have been trying to dissuade people from trespassing by posting the property and making frequent visits to try to maintain the signage and ask people we run into not to continue to trespass," property owner Edy Rameika said.

Despite posted signage, residents continue to trespass on Rameika's property. Photo submitted by Edy Rameika

They have installed security cameras to gage the extent of the problem.

"There is trash that has been dumped, from tires to whole vehicles; along with the rutting and damage to the ground that people four wheeling has caused; there is evidence of bonfires; and scariest of all are the hunters," Rameika said.

Rameika said she is concerned for the safety of residents who continue to trespass on her land.

"This has become a true safety hazard for more than one reason," she said. "People are using the property like it is public parkland but they are also hunting illegally there, which poses an obvious danger."

Since December, timbering operations have also begun on the property.

Land owner Edy Rameika is concerned that trespassing will increase as the weather becomes warmer. Photo submitted by Edy Rameika from onsite security camera

"We are also timbering the property that, currently, is not obvious to the community but is just as hazardous to trespassers," she said.

In an effort to curb the problem and retain their rights as property owners, they will actively prosecute violators.

"We have been left with no choice but to pursue prosecuting those that we find trespassing as the timbering is about to resume and the encroachers have not diminished," she said. "In fact, as the weather becomes nicer more trespassers appear."

Furthermore, to discourage trespassers, they have obtained permits to construct an electrified barbed wire fence around the perimeter of the property later this month.