Massive home addition causes confusion in Fairfax County neighborhood

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:***Update for 02/02/26***

The revisions for the building permit amendment have been APPROVED. Unfortunately there is not any detail on the website about what ended up being approved within the revisions. I do not believe though the homeowner is able to continue with any construction however since the zoning issue remains open and the stop work order references this issue needing to be resolved.

I think that is great news. I hope the neighbors waste all their income on further litigation. If living in a neighborhood with an HOA was important to them, the picked the wrong subdivision. Their money would be best spend renting out their house and finding a new place to live.

Wow - you mean after all this publicity and ridicule, the zoning board STILL approved that monstrosity? I'm really surprised. There was really no basis that board could have cited? Does this mean others in the county can do the same thing?

[Anonymous]

How did the homewoner get around the off street parking requirements?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:***Update for 02/02/26***

The revisions for the building permit amendment have been APPROVED. Unfortunately there is not any detail on the website about what ended up being approved within the revisions. I do not believe though the homeowner is able to continue with any construction however since the zoning issue remains open and the stop work order references this issue needing to be resolved.

I think that is great news. I hope the neighbors waste all their income on further litigation. If living in a neighborhood with an HOA was important to them, the picked the wrong subdivision. Their money would be best spend renting out their house and finding a new place to live.

Wow - you mean after all this publicity and ridicule, the zoning board STILL approved that monstrosity? I'm really surprised. There was really no basis that board could have cited? Does this mean others in the county can do the same thing?

No, only the design changes to eliminate the garage and change windows and floor plans was approved. The setback variance appeal has not been approved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:***Update for 02/02/26***

The revisions for the building permit amendment have been APPROVED. Unfortunately there is not any detail on the website about what ended up being approved within the revisions. I do not believe though the homeowner is able to continue with any construction however since the zoning issue remains open and the stop work order references this issue needing to be resolved.

I think that is great news. I hope the neighbors waste all their income on further litigation. If living in a neighborhood with an HOA was important to them, the picked the wrong subdivision. Their money would be best spend renting out their house and finding a new place to live.

Wow - you mean after all this publicity and ridicule, the zoning board STILL approved that monstrosity? I'm really surprised. There was really no basis that board could have cited? Does this mean others in the county can do the same thing?

No, only the design changes to eliminate the garage and change windows and floor plans was approved. The setback variance appeal has not been approved.

Thanks for the clarification. Guess I don't quite understand - they applied for approval for moderate design changes - but the major structure/footprint issues are still there? Why wouldn't the zoning board be like "who cares about these design changes, what are you doing about the major issues?".

[Anonymous]

Neighbors haven’t spent a dime. This isn’t litigation at this point. Just because a couple design revisions were approved, the entire thing is still held up for now while it goes through this BZA process. And the hearing doesn’t begin until end of April.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neighbors haven’t spent a dime. This isn’t litigation at this point. Just because a couple design revisions were approved, the entire thing is still held up for now while it goes through this BZA process. And the hearing doesn’t begin until end of April.

That makes sense but does anyone know why they're bothering with approving minor/moderate design changes when the elephant-in-the-room issue is still on the table. Seems like the old deck chairs on the Titanic analogy.... Really just curious..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did the homewoner get around the off street parking requirements?

I want to know this too. Is this neighborhood required to have garages or just driveways?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did the homewoner get around the off street parking requirements?

I want to know this too. Is this neighborhood required to have garages or just driveways?

A parking pad with room for two cars is fine.

[Anonymous]

I hope the appeal is denied. It would set a poor precedent. I dont think the owner should be rewarded for their mistakes whether they were innocent mistakes or something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did the homewoner get around the off street parking requirements?

I want to know this too. Is this neighborhood required to have garages or just driveways?

A parking pad with room for two cars is fine.

Depends on how much front yard is left. You can't convert your front yard into a parking lot. Limit should be 30% for R3. The addition has eaten into the front yard already.

[Anonymous]

They failed another wind bracing inspection on 2/13. There are a number of problems, and the remarks on the inspection really highlight how shoddy and haphazard this project is. Measuring is not their strong suit. The stop work order is still in effect.

Inspection notes:

"-House wrap needs to be removed to allow for full inspection. Upper floor almost entirely covered. -Nail pattern incorrect in various locations. CS-WSP panels to be 6" on center on edge and 12" on center in field. CS-PF panels to be 3" on center at edge and 6" on center in field. -Several sheets not fully nailed and separating from structure behind. -Missing anchor bolts at interior braced wall panels. -Various top and bottom plates notched at strong walls. -Incorrect bolt/threaded rod installed at strong walls. -Missing blocking under center and each end between the 2 stories of strong walls at both ends. -Missing various fasteners in strong walls. -Will also need to provide protection for DWV pipe in exterior wall 1st floor -Strong walls do not currently match details on plans or Simpson product catalog. After discussion with Simpson Strong-Tie they have confirmed that they have no installation guide for a scenario like this where the strong walls are installed after the wood framing of the walls has been completed and the foundation has been poured. An engineered design will be needed for the use of the strong walls to include all relevant details. A plan revision will be needed, and the design will also need to be submitted to Simpson Strong-Tie for review in addition to the county review. -Need full reinspection. Contractor/individual performing work must be on site for next inspection. -In addition to wind bracing notes, it was noticed that hallway widths by stairs are currently only 35 inches and will need to be 36 inches at final when finished. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They failed another wind bracing inspection on 2/13. There are a number of problems, and the remarks on the inspection really highlight how shoddy and haphazard this project is. Measuring is not their strong suit. The stop work order is still in effect.

Inspection notes:

"-House wrap needs to be removed to allow for full inspection. Upper floor almost entirely covered. -Nail pattern incorrect in various locations. CS-WSP panels to be 6" on center on edge and 12" on center in field. CS-PF panels to be 3" on center at edge and 6" on center in field. -Several sheets not fully nailed and separating from structure behind. -Missing anchor bolts at interior braced wall panels. -Various top and bottom plates notched at strong walls. -Incorrect bolt/threaded rod installed at strong walls. -Missing blocking under center and each end between the 2 stories of strong walls at both ends. -Missing various fasteners in strong walls. -Will also need to provide protection for DWV pipe in exterior wall 1st floor -Strong walls do not currently match details on plans or Simpson product catalog. After discussion with Simpson Strong-Tie they have confirmed that they have no installation guide for a scenario like this where the strong walls are installed after the wood framing of the walls has been completed and the foundation has been poured. An engineered design will be needed for the use of the strong walls to include all relevant details. A plan revision will be needed, and the design will also need to be submitted to Simpson Strong-Tie for review in addition to the county review. -Need full reinspection. Contractor/individual performing work must be on site for next inspection. -In addition to wind bracing notes, it was noticed that hallway widths by stairs are currently only 35 inches and will need to be 36 inches at final when finished. "

Wowwwww. There's no way the manufacturer will be clearing this janky installation. This inspector was pissed and wants to correct the builder to their face next time. Yikes.

[Anonymous]

Dang that’s a lot of work! I think they’d be better off cutting their losses. Interesting that the contractor who performed the work (probably the homeowner) needs to be onsite at the next inspection- I wonder if the county inspectors want to review their licensing.

What’s the status of the encroachment? Has that been resolved?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dang that’s a lot of work! I think they’d be better off cutting their losses. Interesting that the contractor who performed the work (probably the homeowner) needs to be onsite at the next inspection- I wonder if the county inspectors want to review their licensing.

What’s the status of the encroachment? Has that been resolved?

even weirder there is no contractor or homeowner in charge of work. The owners kid no on title was in charge. Maybe the parents should sue the kid for shoddy work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They failed another wind bracing inspection on 2/13. There are a number of problems, and the remarks on the inspection really highlight how shoddy and haphazard this project is. Measuring is not their strong suit. The stop work order is still in effect.

Inspection notes:

"-House wrap needs to be removed to allow for full inspection. Upper floor almost entirely covered. -Nail pattern incorrect in various locations. CS-WSP panels to be 6" on center on edge and 12" on center in field. CS-PF panels to be 3" on center at edge and 6" on center in field. -Several sheets not fully nailed and separating from structure behind. -Missing anchor bolts at interior braced wall panels. -Various top and bottom plates notched at strong walls. -Incorrect bolt/threaded rod installed at strong walls. -Missing blocking under center and each end between the 2 stories of strong walls at both ends. -Missing various fasteners in strong walls. -Will also need to provide protection for DWV pipe in exterior wall 1st floor -Strong walls do not currently match details on plans or Simpson product catalog. After discussion with Simpson Strong-Tie they have confirmed that they have no installation guide for a scenario like this where the strong walls are installed after the wood framing of the walls has been completed and the foundation has been poured. An engineered design will be needed for the use of the strong walls to include all relevant details. A plan revision will be needed, and the design will also need to be submitted to Simpson Strong-Tie for review in addition to the county review. -Need full reinspection. Contractor/individual performing work must be on site for next inspection. -In addition to wind bracing notes, it was noticed that hallway widths by stairs are currently only 35 inches and will need to be 36 inches at final when finished. "

Wowwwww. There's no way the manufacturer will be clearing this janky installation. This inspector was pissed and wants to correct the builder to their face next time. Yikes.

The length makes that look a lot worse than it is. Many of those things are both structurally significant and sloppy, but not necessarily that hard to address. Still, it isn't good that some of those things are still after the last inspection. I wonder if the builder and homeowner are confused about what sort of things they're able to address during a stop-work order.

It's a little unclear from the report, but it sounds like the holdowns weren't installed correctly- missing and/or in the wrong place. They don't need the manufacturer to do anything. They need an engineer to tell them where to put other anchors. That's not uncommon for additions.