Massive home addition causes confusion in Fairfax County neighborhood

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these poor neighbors can’t even sell because no one wants to live in the shadow of a shoddy apartment building in the suburbs.

It’s ugly, but there are plenty of 4 bedroom, 2 bath houses nearby that no one is calling an apartment building.

I’m not Asian, but this feels like dog whistle. White people in the U.S. have been accusing Asians of living in overcrowded conditions since the mid-1800s, even when whites lived in similar density.

I think you're misunderstanding. The addition is not a 4 bedroom, 2 bath addition. I haven't seen the floor plans, but each floor has a kitchen, bath, and multiple bedrooms. The original home is 4 bedrooms, 2 baths.

You can not legally have multiple kitchens with a stove on each floor. You can have a sink and a fridge but not a stove.

You put the stove in after the final inspection. At least, that's what my neighbors did.

If I would the neighbor I would be calling the county every day for violations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Homeowner gave an interview to some instagrammer that I can't find now or else I would post it. He said that he started permit process in January, took 7 months to get it, had told his neighbor he was putting on an addition (didn't specify if he told her how big) and everything seemed fine until the third story was started. Once the third story had begun construction the problems started.

He is standing in front of the addition in the driveway and the quality looks awful. I hope that is just the basic beginning because it looks like it will fall apart in the wind.

PP here. I found the interview so am posting insta link below. Another point that seemed strange was that he claims the addition is for his children and their families. But then he also says his son was harassed playing in the yard by someone complaining about the addition. So how old exactly are his kids? And they have families? Doesn’t make sense.

Here is link. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRK7bIRCdgb/?igsh=c3cxdWlyOWhlejF2

PP again. At the end he states the problem now if that the back corner is 7.4 feet from property line when it should be at least 8.5. The front is 8.5 but the back is 7.4. He can be surprised and claim it’s an honest mistake but it’s over a foot too close.

I doubt the County approved a plan that indicated a 7.4 setback. This site plan is likely on the website for public viewing (PLUS system) so someone can go in and check it. This is more of a case where his surveyor did not stakeout the addition corners correctly so a construction vs plan error. Immediately after the walls are erected, the best practice is to perform a "wall check" survey which confirms the structure is not violating any setbacks - all four corners. Had they performed the survey, this infraction would be have been detected and corrected before commencing more work. Idiots....really

If I were the neighbor I would lawyer up to make sure the variance request is not approved. Setback laws are there for a reason.

Don't they need a public hearing for setback or variance requests? I know I have seen signs announcing these things in my neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Homeowner gave an interview to some instagrammer that I can't find now or else I would post it. He said that he started permit process in January, took 7 months to get it, had told his neighbor he was putting on an addition (didn't specify if he told her how big) and everything seemed fine until the third story was started. Once the third story had begun construction the problems started.

He is standing in front of the addition in the driveway and the quality looks awful. I hope that is just the basic beginning because it looks like it will fall apart in the wind.

PP here. I found the interview so am posting insta link below. Another point that seemed strange was that he claims the addition is for his children and their families. But then he also says his son was harassed playing in the yard by someone complaining about the addition. So how old exactly are his kids? And they have families? Doesn’t make sense.

Here is link. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRK7bIRCdgb/?igsh=c3cxdWlyOWhlejF2

I saw somewhere they are young, I think he said 5 and 3 or 5 and 7? They were odd numbers a few years apart.

What I would like someone to confirm, not here necessarily, but a journalist, is whether or not the guy who attacked Gerry Connolly lived there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not surprised, government workers at the Fairfax County are lazy and incompetent. They need to fire the person who approved the building permit. The 3 story addition is like a high-rise rabbit hutch. The piece said that it is to house three generations of people. Who are these people?

I agree with this. We're in Fairfax and one of our neighbors did a bunch of unpermitted work to open what is clearly (from parking patterns) short term rental housing despite not having the right permit for the short term rentals. County required them to pull some after the fact permits and otherwise did nothing. Meanwhile the change added 5-6 cars parked on the street to our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I think he is saying that someday in the future, when his children have their own families, they can all live on this compound.

[Anonymous]

Pat Herrity- "Today the Board approved my request to begin a review of our zoning ordinance to prevent by right renovations and additions from looming over existing residences as happened in Greenbrier."

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DDHsSg46c/

[Anonymous]

so its just off by 6 inches in the back, even with it back 6 inches the zoning rules still allowed this to be built. don't hate the player hate the game as the elderly said in the 90s

[Anonymous]

this is what MOCO Maryland wants to do to their neighborhoods.....

this is a great example to fight back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so its just off by 6 inches in the back, even with it back 6 inches the zoning rules still allowed this to be built. don't hate the player hate the game as the elderly said in the 90s

No, the zoning rules do not allow it to be 7.4 ft from the property line. Rule states 8 feet so player is cheating the game. I hope they make him rebuild.

You can say it is within his right, but seriously tell me you wouldn't lose your mind if this monstrosity was built next to you?

[Anonymous]

If he doesn’t get the variance and has to make adjustments, could they make him go back thru the process and then deny or limit it to two stories? Agree his description of who is living there is odd. Says he has two young kids but makes it seem like it is for his grown kids and their families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so its just off by 6 inches in the back, even with it back 6 inches the zoning rules still allowed this to be built. don't hate the player hate the game as the elderly said in the 90s

No, the zoning rules do not allow it to be 7.4 ft from the property line. Rule states 8 feet so player is cheating the game. I hope they make him rebuild.

You can say it is within his right, but seriously tell me you wouldn't lose your mind if this monstrosity was built next to you?

The entire home would be the same if it were only 6 inches in, the height is within code?

[Anonymous]

Wow as bad as the view from the front is, the view from the side is just another level. OMG. Poor neighbors.

[Anonymous]

He is likely going to rent the floors out - essentially an apt building. He is an “entrepreneur “or sorts. This is what trashy low class people or can’t earn $$ other ways do. Seen it many times. Not only ugly but a commercial operation will
Unfold. From the interview this man is clearly not a professional (nor educated) so par for the course. This is why those who can afford it, purchase in high rent hoods where an act such as this is rare. Not saying the well heeled don’t do it but it’s quite rare. BTW, I’m Asian so don’t pull the racist card. I know how they operate. Can’t fool me. If I were the poor neighbor next door, I get an attorney and ask for a meeting in Herrity office asap so zero opportunity to grant any waiver, variance, whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he doesn’t get the variance and has to make adjustments, could they make him go back thru the process and then deny or limit it to two stories? Agree his description of who is living there is odd. Says he has two young kids but makes it seem like it is for his grown kids and their families.

Variance is not a formality. They can (and should) deny it. The loser will then need to spend more $$ as necessary for compliance. This could mean tearing down the entire contraption because the foundation, footings need to be redone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he is saying that someday in the future, when his children have their own families, they can all live on this compound.

And until then?