Starlings Island

There aren't very many privately owned islands in the Chesapeake Bay. Most of them are far from the mainland (and electricity) making construction difficult and expensive. Of the few islands that are near the mainland, few meet today's strict regulations for septic systems and can't be built upon.

Starlings Island, nestled in Pocomoke Sound, a part of the Chesapeake Bay, is one of the exceptions. While it is mainly surrounded by open water and neighboring wetland islands, the mainland and all utilities are only 400 feet away in the quaint fishing village of Saxis. Perhaps most important of all, a Health Department approved septic system is already installed.

Believed to be between 75 to 90 acres in size, Starlings Island's unique location and proximity to the mainland make it an ideal location for a year round home or a vacation getaway. It offers unparalleled views of the Chesapeake Bay in one direction and thousands of acres of pristine marsh in the other. With the village of Saxis and all utilities only a stone's throw away, island living with all of life's conveniences is possible.

Location Starlings Island is located in the Pocomoke Sound, a part of the Chesapeake Bay, about 400 feet offshore of Saxis, Virginia. Saxis is on the Western coast of Virginia's Eastern Shore, within a few miles of the Virginia/Maryland border, approximately 90 miles North of Norfolk, Virginia or 50 miles South of Salisbury, Maryland. The major cities of Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD and Richmond, VA are all about three and one half hours away. Many people are familiar with Chincoteague, VA and Assateague Island which are on the Eastern coast of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Saxis is roughly due West of Chincoteague on the opposite side of the Eastern Shore.

County tax records list Starlings Island as 23 acres in size, but one look will show that this is a significant underestimate. Analysis of aerial imagery has suggested a size of between 75 and 90 acres. In 2005 a GPS receiver was used while walking along the perimeter of the Island at high tide. While soft ground prevented a complete walk of the island, the data collected yielded an estimated size of about 75 acres. The wooded area is estimated to be 4 1/2 acres in size and the grass areas are estimated to be 5 1/2 acres in size.

The wooded areas of the island are dominated by scrub cherries and scrub plums with underlying grasses. There is a stand of pines on the northwest corner. Smaller pines are popping up all around the island. There are also a few locust trees, gums and cedars. The non-native invasive reed Phragmites is present and had moved out of the wetlands, but is retreating in areas where eradication efforts are underway. The native grass is now recovering well in many areas and sapling trees are beginning to appear.

The Island The island is home to a diverse range of wildlife. A wide variety of birds visit the island year round and bald eagle sightings are common. Several owls call the island home. Deer visit the island regularly and as many as 5 have been spotted at one time. Does with fawns are often seen during the spring and summer months. Deer sightings have increased as the native grasses have recovered. Smaller animals include raccoons, opossums, mice and voles.

Possibilities The possible uses for Starlings Island are almost limitless. It is zoned for agricultural use which allows for a remarkably wide array of uses. A few possibilities include:

A Permanent Home - With the mainland only a 2 minute boat ride away, it is possible to live on the island year round.

An All-Seasons Retreat - Imagine leaving the bustle of the city behind and getting away to your private island retreat! The summer season is great for boating and water sports while the fall and spring allow for bird watching and pleasant strolls around the island. In the winter, enjoy hunting the seemingly endless parade of ducks and geese that flock to the Wildlife Management area adjacent to the island.

An exclusive Bed and Breakfast - Starlings Island would make a spectacular setting for an exclusive bed and breakfast. Imagine being able to offer guests use of an entire island for the ultimate pampered getaway! With nearby attractions such as Chincoteague, Crisfield, and Assateague Island, guests would have lots of off island options for passing the days. A Special Use Permit would probably be required.

A Private Nature Preserve - Have your own private preserve to watch nature up close. One of our favorite things to do is camp on the island in the spring and enjoy listening to the birds sing as they dart all around the island. There's nothing like the excitement of catching a glimpse of a new born fawn.

A Sportsman's or Boating Club - This use is generally allowed by right in Accomack County. There are a number of different ways a club could be structured. It has been suggested to create a club where members would each have exclusive use of the island and its facilities for a few weeks out of the year (similar to a time share). With the inter-coastal waterway in the Chesapeake Bay, Starlings Island would make a great stopping point (or destination) on any journey.

As an investment - The Eastern Shore of Virginia has been seeing great appreciation in real estate values as people discover its charm and beauty. In Saxis, there has been tremendous appreciation in value in the past few years with some properties seeing a 50% increase in just 5 years. As environmental regulations continue to be more stringent, there are bound to be fewer islands that can be built on.

Building a Home We had purchased Starlings Island to build our home, but changes in our lives require us to move out of the area and that dream won't come true for us. In preparation for construction, we met with every Agency we could think of to discuss our plans and we were set to begin construction as soon as our house design was completed. Below is the information we've obtained about building on Starlings Island. Since regulations often change, we encourage you to verify all this information when planning your dream home.

Home location, Zoning and Size - Accomack County requires a 100 foot Resource Protection Area between any structure (including decks) and a Wetland area. We had planned on placing our home on the Southwest corner of the wooded area, over 100 feet back from the wetlands. When applying for the building permit, a survey of the proposed house site showing the wetland areas (as determined by a recognized specialist) is required.

Starlings Island is in the Agricultural Zoning District. In a nutshell, private homes, game preserves, lodges, hunting/boating clubs and accessory structures are allowed by right. With a special use permit, recreational facilities, camping facilities, waterfront businesses, and hotel/motel/tourist homes are allowed. We found no restrictions on the height of a house in the Agricultural Zoning District. The septic system that has been installed is for a 3 bedroom home. If a larger home is desired, a new system will probably be required. As you might expect, Starlings Island is in the flood plain and at last check had a V-6 rating. It is our understanding that this rating basically requires that either the lowest horizontal structural part of the house must be 7 feet above mean sea level OR that any wall/foundation below that point be able to withstand flooding and wave action. The exact elevation of the island has never been determined, but it is believed to be around 10 feet in the sandy clearing and 6 feet in the woods. Our engineer had planned on placing our home 8 feet above ground level on pilings (telephone poles driven 30 feet into the ground). This would insure that no flood would enter the house and provide for amazing views.