Massive home addition causes confusion in Fairfax County neighborhood

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a quote from the denial letter of what the homeowner thought:

Although the addition is unfinished, you explain in your request that the finished wall will be done in "standard vinyl siding — approximately one inch in thickness," resulting in a final right side yard setback that “will be around 7.3 feet."

Vinyl siding isn't that thick, typically a projection of 3/4”. I suppose the corner trim could project 1". Again, someone should have submitted a drawing.

There’s insulation under the siding, which adds some more thickness. I suppose one could cheap out on the insulation to save bulk, but then you’d be paying extra on heat and air conditioning every month.

Insulation? What's that?

Haha, right- they’re doing this as cheaply as possible. Who needs insulation?

They do make insulated vinyl siding. It's better than nothing, but that's not "standard." However, what is standard vinyl siding? There's no end of styles and shapes.

Again, tell the BZA exactly what you are installing and include the product documentation. Completely self-inflicted problem leaving "standard vinyl siding" up to the BZA's imagination.

They knew exactly what was meant. They just weren't going to administratively approve a controversial project. The homeowner needs to demonstrate he's willing to go to court.

How could they know what was meant without any exact measurements to examine? How do you know what the board knows?

Don't be obtuse. We all know what the homeowner intends to install. And if they were going to install foamboard, it would have been on the permit application.

But no one installs foamboard on an addition, and certainly not at this price point. Separate from that, the width differences between vinyl siding options is negligible.

No one installs siding anymore without the extra layer of insulation.

That's definitely false. For a new build you might expect it, but not on an addition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a quote from the denial letter of what the homeowner thought:

Although the addition is unfinished, you explain in your request that the finished wall will be done in "standard vinyl siding — approximately one inch in thickness," resulting in a final right side yard setback that “will be around 7.3 feet."

Vinyl siding isn't that thick, typically a projection of 3/4”. I suppose the corner trim could project 1". Again, someone should have submitted a drawing.

There’s insulation under the siding, which adds some more thickness. I suppose one could cheap out on the insulation to save bulk, but then you’d be paying extra on heat and air conditioning every month.

Insulation? What's that?

Haha, right- they’re doing this as cheaply as possible. Who needs insulation?

They do make insulated vinyl siding. It's better than nothing, but that's not "standard." However, what is standard vinyl siding? There's no end of styles and shapes.

Again, tell the BZA exactly what you are installing and include the product documentation. Completely self-inflicted problem leaving "standard vinyl siding" up to the BZA's imagination.

They knew exactly what was meant. They just weren't going to administratively approve a controversial project. The homeowner needs to demonstrate he's willing to go to court.

How could they know what was meant without any exact measurements to examine? How do you know what the board knows?

Don't be obtuse. We all know what the homeowner intends to install. And if they were going to install foamboard, it would have been on the permit application.

But no one installs foamboard on an addition, and certainly not at this price point. Separate from that, the width differences between vinyl siding options is negligible.

No one installs siding anymore without the extra layer of insulation.

That's definitely false. For a new build you might expect it, but not on an addition.

I think on an addition people expect to find what is standard at the time it is built. So, yes, most additions would have the foam board under the siding. Why build to a lower standard from an earlier time? Especially so much square footage- wouldn’t you want to save on heat and air conditioning? Cheaping out on the insulation would be penny wise and pound foolish for such a large addition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a quote from the denial letter of what the homeowner thought:

Although the addition is unfinished, you explain in your request that the finished wall will be done in "standard vinyl siding — approximately one inch in thickness," resulting in a final right side yard setback that “will be around 7.3 feet."

Vinyl siding isn't that thick, typically a projection of 3/4”. I suppose the corner trim could project 1". Again, someone should have submitted a drawing.

There’s insulation under the siding, which adds some more thickness. I suppose one could cheap out on the insulation to save bulk, but then you’d be paying extra on heat and air conditioning every month.

Insulation? What's that?

Haha, right- they’re doing this as cheaply as possible. Who needs insulation?

They do make insulated vinyl siding. It's better than nothing, but that's not "standard." However, what is standard vinyl siding? There's no end of styles and shapes.

Again, tell the BZA exactly what you are installing and include the product documentation. Completely self-inflicted problem leaving "standard vinyl siding" up to the BZA's imagination.

They knew exactly what was meant. They just weren't going to administratively approve a controversial project. The homeowner needs to demonstrate he's willing to go to court.

How could they know what was meant without any exact measurements to examine? How do you know what the board knows?

Don't be obtuse. We all know what the homeowner intends to install. And if they were going to install foamboard, it would have been on the permit application.

But no one installs foamboard on an addition, and certainly not at this price point. Separate from that, the width differences between vinyl siding options is negligible.

Then the builder should be able to supply exact measurements, not approximations. At the very least, a drawing should have been supplied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a quote from the denial letter of what the homeowner thought:

Although the addition is unfinished, you explain in your request that the finished wall will be done in "standard vinyl siding — approximately one inch in thickness," resulting in a final right side yard setback that “will be around 7.3 feet."

Vinyl siding isn't that thick, typically a projection of 3/4”. I suppose the corner trim could project 1". Again, someone should have submitted a drawing.

There’s insulation under the siding, which adds some more thickness. I suppose one could cheap out on the insulation to save bulk, but then you’d be paying extra on heat and air conditioning every month.

Insulation? What's that?

Haha, right- they’re doing this as cheaply as possible. Who needs insulation?

They do make insulated vinyl siding. It's better than nothing, but that's not "standard." However, what is standard vinyl siding? There's no end of styles and shapes.

Again, tell the BZA exactly what you are installing and include the product documentation. Completely self-inflicted problem leaving "standard vinyl siding" up to the BZA's imagination.

They knew exactly what was meant. They just weren't going to administratively approve a controversial project. The homeowner needs to demonstrate he's willing to go to court.

How could they know what was meant without any exact measurements to examine? How do you know what the board knows?

Don't be obtuse. We all know what the homeowner intends to install. And if they were going to install foamboard, it would have been on the permit application.

But no one installs foamboard on an addition, and certainly not at this price point. Separate from that, the width differences between vinyl siding options is negligible.

No one installs siding anymore without the extra layer of insulation.

That's definitely false. For a new build you might expect it, but not on an addition.

I think on an addition people expect to find what is standard at the time it is built. So, yes, most additions would have the foam board under the siding. Why build to a lower standard from an earlier time? Especially so much square footage- wouldn’t you want to save on heat and air conditioning? Cheaping out on the insulation would be penny wise and pound foolish for such a large addition.

I disagree about what you'd expect to find, but the whole point is silly. If they intended to do it, it would have been on the original application.

And, obviously, they're not going to install if it would mean having to tear down the structure. That's clearly not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a quote from the denial letter of what the homeowner thought:

Although the addition is unfinished, you explain in your request that the finished wall will be done in "standard vinyl siding — approximately one inch in thickness," resulting in a final right side yard setback that “will be around 7.3 feet."

Vinyl siding isn't that thick, typically a projection of 3/4”. I suppose the corner trim could project 1". Again, someone should have submitted a drawing.

There’s insulation under the siding, which adds some more thickness. I suppose one could cheap out on the insulation to save bulk, but then you’d be paying extra on heat and air conditioning every month.

Insulation? What's that?

Haha, right- they’re doing this as cheaply as possible. Who needs insulation?

They do make insulated vinyl siding. It's better than nothing, but that's not "standard." However, what is standard vinyl siding? There's no end of styles and shapes.

Again, tell the BZA exactly what you are installing and include the product documentation. Completely self-inflicted problem leaving "standard vinyl siding" up to the BZA's imagination.

They knew exactly what was meant. They just weren't going to administratively approve a controversial project. The homeowner needs to demonstrate he's willing to go to court.

How could they know what was meant without any exact measurements to examine? How do you know what the board knows?

Don't be obtuse. We all know what the homeowner intends to install. And if they were going to install foamboard, it would have been on the permit application.

But no one installs foamboard on an addition, and certainly not at this price point. Separate from that, the width differences between vinyl siding options is negligible.

Then the builder should be able to supply exact measurements, not approximations. At the very least, a drawing should have been supplied.

How many building applications do think include such measurements?

The county knows if foamboard was in the plan or not. And they know how thick vinyl siding is.

I don't blame them for not administratively approving this, but the "siding thickness" rationale is absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a quote from the denial letter of what the homeowner thought:

Although the addition is unfinished, you explain in your request that the finished wall will be done in "standard vinyl siding — approximately one inch in thickness," resulting in a final right side yard setback that “will be around 7.3 feet."

Vinyl siding isn't that thick, typically a projection of 3/4”. I suppose the corner trim could project 1". Again, someone should have submitted a drawing.

There’s insulation under the siding, which adds some more thickness. I suppose one could cheap out on the insulation to save bulk, but then you’d be paying extra on heat and air conditioning every month.

Insulation? What's that?

Haha, right- they’re doing this as cheaply as possible. Who needs insulation?

They do make insulated vinyl siding. It's better than nothing, but that's not "standard." However, what is standard vinyl siding? There's no end of styles and shapes.

Again, tell the BZA exactly what you are installing and include the product documentation. Completely self-inflicted problem leaving "standard vinyl siding" up to the BZA's imagination.

They knew exactly what was meant. They just weren't going to administratively approve a controversial project. The homeowner needs to demonstrate he's willing to go to court.

How could they know what was meant without any exact measurements to examine? How do you know what the board knows?

Don't be obtuse. We all know what the homeowner intends to install. And if they were going to install foamboard, it would have been on the permit application.

But no one installs foamboard on an addition, and certainly not at this price point. Separate from that, the width differences between vinyl siding options is negligible.

Then the builder should be able to supply exact measurements, not approximations. At the very least, a drawing should have been supplied.

How many building applications do think include such measurements?

The county knows if foamboard was in the plan or not. And they know how thick vinyl siding is.

I don't blame them for not administratively approving this, but the "siding thickness" rationale is absurd.

If it's not in the application, the county doesn't know.

BTW, how thick is vinyl siding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a quote from the denial letter of what the homeowner thought:

Although the addition is unfinished, you explain in your request that the finished wall will be done in "standard vinyl siding — approximately one inch in thickness," resulting in a final right side yard setback that “will be around 7.3 feet."

Vinyl siding isn't that thick, typically a projection of 3/4”. I suppose the corner trim could project 1". Again, someone should have submitted a drawing.

There’s insulation under the siding, which adds some more thickness. I suppose one could cheap out on the insulation to save bulk, but then you’d be paying extra on heat and air conditioning every month.

Insulation? What's that?

Haha, right- they’re doing this as cheaply as possible. Who needs insulation?

They do make insulated vinyl siding. It's better than nothing, but that's not "standard." However, what is standard vinyl siding? There's no end of styles and shapes.

Again, tell the BZA exactly what you are installing and include the product documentation. Completely self-inflicted problem leaving "standard vinyl siding" up to the BZA's imagination.

They knew exactly what was meant. They just weren't going to administratively approve a controversial project. The homeowner needs to demonstrate he's willing to go to court.

How could they know what was meant without any exact measurements to examine? How do you know what the board knows?

Don't be obtuse. We all know what the homeowner intends to install. And if they were going to install foamboard, it would have been on the permit application.

But no one installs foamboard on an addition, and certainly not at this price point. Separate from that, the width differences between vinyl siding options is negligible.

No one installs siding anymore without the extra layer of insulation.

That's definitely false. For a new build you might expect it, but not on an addition.

I think on an addition people expect to find what is standard at the time it is built. So, yes, most additions would have the foam board under the siding. Why build to a lower standard from an earlier time? Especially so much square footage- wouldn’t you want to save on heat and air conditioning? Cheaping out on the insulation would be penny wise and pound foolish for such a large addition.

I disagree about what you'd expect to find, but the whole point is silly. If they intended to do it, it would have been on the original application.

And, obviously, they're not going to install if it would mean having to tear down the structure. That's clearly not worth it.

Disagree. This homeowner has a history of submitting plans, getting them approved, and then deviating from said plans - eg plans have a garage and then didn’t build to those plans.

So it’s NOT so obvious that if he intended to do something he would have submitted it in the plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a quote from the denial letter of what the homeowner thought:

Although the addition is unfinished, you explain in your request that the finished wall will be done in "standard vinyl siding — approximately one inch in thickness," resulting in a final right side yard setback that “will be around 7.3 feet."

Vinyl siding isn't that thick, typically a projection of 3/4”. I suppose the corner trim could project 1". Again, someone should have submitted a drawing.

There’s insulation under the siding, which adds some more thickness. I suppose one could cheap out on the insulation to save bulk, but then you’d be paying extra on heat and air conditioning every month.

Insulation? What's that?

Haha, right- they’re doing this as cheaply as possible. Who needs insulation?

They do make insulated vinyl siding. It's better than nothing, but that's not "standard." However, what is standard vinyl siding? There's no end of styles and shapes.

Again, tell the BZA exactly what you are installing and include the product documentation. Completely self-inflicted problem leaving "standard vinyl siding" up to the BZA's imagination.

They knew exactly what was meant. They just weren't going to administratively approve a controversial project. The homeowner needs to demonstrate he's willing to go to court.

How could they know what was meant without any exact measurements to examine? How do you know what the board knows?

Don't be obtuse. We all know what the homeowner intends to install. And if they were going to install foamboard, it would have been on the permit application.

But no one installs foamboard on an addition, and certainly not at this price point. Separate from that, the width differences between vinyl siding options is negligible.

Then the builder should be able to supply exact measurements, not approximations. At the very least, a drawing should have been supplied.

How many building applications do think include such measurements?

The county knows if foamboard was in the plan or not. And they know how thick vinyl siding is.

I don't blame them for not administratively approving this, but the "siding thickness" rationale is absurd.

If it's not in the application, the county doesn't know.

BTW, how thick is vinyl siding?

As installed, 1" +/- a quarter inch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a quote from the denial letter of what the homeowner thought:

Although the addition is unfinished, you explain in your request that the finished wall will be done in "standard vinyl siding — approximately one inch in thickness," resulting in a final right side yard setback that “will be around 7.3 feet."

Vinyl siding isn't that thick, typically a projection of 3/4”. I suppose the corner trim could project 1". Again, someone should have submitted a drawing.

There’s insulation under the siding, which adds some more thickness. I suppose one could cheap out on the insulation to save bulk, but then you’d be paying extra on heat and air conditioning every month.

Insulation? What's that?

Haha, right- they’re doing this as cheaply as possible. Who needs insulation?

They do make insulated vinyl siding. It's better than nothing, but that's not "standard." However, what is standard vinyl siding? There's no end of styles and shapes.

Again, tell the BZA exactly what you are installing and include the product documentation. Completely self-inflicted problem leaving "standard vinyl siding" up to the BZA's imagination.

They knew exactly what was meant. They just weren't going to administratively approve a controversial project. The homeowner needs to demonstrate he's willing to go to court.

How could they know what was meant without any exact measurements to examine? How do you know what the board knows?

Don't be obtuse. We all know what the homeowner intends to install. And if they were going to install foamboard, it would have been on the permit application.

But no one installs foamboard on an addition, and certainly not at this price point. Separate from that, the width differences between vinyl siding options is negligible.

Then the builder should be able to supply exact measurements, not approximations. At the very least, a drawing should have been supplied.

How many building applications do think include such measurements?

The county knows if foamboard was in the plan or not. And they know how thick vinyl siding is.

I don't blame them for not administratively approving this, but the "siding thickness" rationale is absurd.

If it's not in the application, the county doesn't know.

BTW, how thick is vinyl siding?

As installed, 1" +/- a quarter inch.

Welcome, fellow engineer/architect. A statement like this is far better than approximately 1". Including a diagram of the final asbuilt assembly would be even more convincing that you were certain about your projection into the setback.

[Anonymous]

More documents are now available in the zoning section of the FFX county permit site.

The whole set of building plans (which include the garage that was never built) are on there.

The appeal letter and statement of aggrieved person look like they were written with Chat GPT.

[Anonymous]

There is a 6" discrepancy on the side where the setback issues is between the "Improvements Survey 2.4.25" which was stamped and part of the permit, and the actual building plans.

The total width of the addition is 15.5' that replaced existing structure, so we can take this as being to the limit of the encroaching wall. The building plans show a setback of 8" versus the survey that showed 8.5". This is a big discrepancy between the two different plan documents and raises questions.

I wonder if the homeowner did not request monumentation be set on the original survey. I would think this is likely, and having a survey done without monumentation set is 100% the fault of the owner. The original survey would have proof in writing that no monumentation be set.

[Anonymous]

The appeal letter conveniently leaves out important facts about the siding, namely that it is laid in an overlapping manner on top of each other, so one needs to double the thickness. The plans show it in such manner. Also, they left out the thickness of the corner post that has to go over the siding board laid down. This adds more thickness. They also left out any margins for gaps that need to exist. The most severe encroachment is at the rear in exactly a place a corner post is per the plans. If they included these real measurements which are necessary to the home, they would likely be over the 10% mark of encroachment. The BZA was right that it was too close to actually be sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The appeal letter conveniently leaves out important facts about the siding, namely that it is laid in an overlapping manner on top of each other, so one needs to double the thickness. The plans show it in such manner. Also, they left out the thickness of the corner post that has to go over the siding board laid down. This adds more thickness. They also left out any margins for gaps that need to exist. The most severe encroachment is at the rear in exactly a place a corner post is per the plans. If they included these real measurements which are necessary to the home, they would likely be over the 10% mark of encroachment. The BZA was right that it was too close to actually be sure.

Have you ever put up vinyl siding? The corners are only about an inch thick.

[Anonymous]

The ship has likely sailed on this one, but there is no way that the land disturbance was under 2,500 sq ft. By self-reporting a disturbance of under this amount, they were able to avoid needing to seek a land disturbance permit and approval for a grading plan. Approval for these would have also necessitated an environmental and run-off review, adding further scrutiny to the project.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment/land-disturbance

The google street view from October 2025, clearly shows they have used the entire front yard area from the front porch to the sidewalk as staging area and the ground was disturbed. They did not account for this like they should have in their initial plans. The plans also call for using the existing driveway as stockpile, but the existing driveway was clearly removed. This is also evident on the street view. They even have temporary work area fencing going to what is presumably the property line.

I am at roughly 3,300 sq ft of land disturbance when I account for the front yard area disturbed.

Their calculations do not add up to me from what is show in the plans. I get to 2,097 of disturbance alone from the addition, side buffer area, and rear buffers. This does not include any of the required 10 ft buffer from the garage into the yard.

The plans show an entirely new foundation and footing laid for the entire addition.

[Anonymous]

In case anyone is wondering, the original building plans show:

Floor 1:
Garage
HVAC room
Rec room
Half bath
Kitchen
Laundry

Floor 2
Master 1 with attached closet and bathroom
Bedroom 2 with attached closet and bathroom
Master 3 with attached closet and bathroom
Laundry

Floor 3
Master 1 with attached closet and bathroom
Master 2 with attached closet, office, and bathroom
Laundry
Hallway half bathroom

Also claims Hardiplank siding