Massive home addition causes confusion in Fairfax County neighborhood

[Anonymous]

These multiple Greenbriar residents are CRYING making statements. I’m rolling my eyes.

These people should’ve bought in an HOA, especially since Fairfax County is majority HOAs.

[Anonymous]

Glad we moved from that area when we did! Holy moly that is bad. Good luck to any of the neighbors who try to sell their house.

[Anonymous]

Not looking good for homeowner.

[Anonymous]

HO lost appeal.

[Anonymous]

So, what happens now?

[Anonymous]

Just watched the hearing.

It is annoying that the homeowner cried about how this huge addition is for his family but made zero - zero - comments about how it affects his neighbors. Uncool.

Agree with the comments on how overturning the denial will lead to people doing whatever they want, then crying for relief later from the county.

All they'd have to do is claim they were "taken in by an unscrupulous contractor." Due diligence should absolutely be the standard; otherwise, why have standards at all?

Also agree with the neighbors that this is a homeowner that repeatedly flouted zoning and permitting requirements in the past. (They built additions/enclosed their garage without permits/inspections). They also clearly understood things needed permits, having had started but not completed the processes at the time. Shady

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, what happens now?

I’m curious too. Does the homeowner now have to tear it down?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this update. I have been wondering the outcome, especially after all that bad weather in January.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HO lost appeal.

I thought they didn’t rule?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just watched the hearing.

It is annoying that the homeowner cried about how this huge addition is for his family but made zero - zero - comments about how it affects his neighbors. Uncool.

Agree with the comments on how overturning the denial will lead to people doing whatever they want, then crying for relief later from the county.

All they'd have to do is claim they were "taken in by an unscrupulous contractor." Due diligence should absolutely be the standard; otherwise, why have standards at all?

Also agree with the neighbors that this is a homeowner that repeatedly flouted zoning and permitting requirements in the past. (They built additions/enclosed their garage without permits/inspections). They also clearly understood things needed permits, having had started but not completed the processes at the time. Shady

That’s contrary to how fraud works in Virginia. If you’re thrown off your guard by a fraudster’s false representation, they’re liable even if you could have discovered their fraud with research. Review Van Deusen v. Snead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HO lost appeal.

I thought they didn’t rule?

Definitely took a vote. 6-0 to uphold the Zoning Admin’s decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These multiple Greenbriar residents are CRYING making statements. I’m rolling my eyes.

These people should’ve bought in an HOA, especially since Fairfax County is majority HOAs.

Ignorant comment. HOAs were just starting to become common in the late 60s when Greenbriar was developed. And a *lot* of the homeowners here have been there since then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just watched the hearing.

It is annoying that the homeowner cried about how this huge addition is for his family but made zero - zero - comments about how it affects his neighbors. Uncool.

Agree with the comments on how overturning the denial will lead to people doing whatever they want, then crying for relief later from the county.

All they'd have to do is claim they were "taken in by an unscrupulous contractor." Due diligence should absolutely be the standard; otherwise, why have standards at all?

Also agree with the neighbors that this is a homeowner that repeatedly flouted zoning and permitting requirements in the past. (They built additions/enclosed their garage without permits/inspections). They also clearly understood things needed permits, having had started but not completed the processes at the time. Shady

That’s contrary to how fraud works in Virginia. If you’re thrown off your guard by a fraudster’s false representation, they’re liable even if you could have discovered their fraud with research. Review Van Deusen v. Snead.

Not arguing the fraudulent contractor is not liable. They are.

It’s not on FFX to remedy the applicant appellant when they failed to do due diligence. It’s pretty much what they held today.

My point was if they had overturned the denial today, it opens doors for homeowners to override zoning whenever they want with a claim that they were victims of a shady contractor. Anyone can just make that up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing that’s super interesting about this hearing is that it turns out the homeowner actually did use a contractor who misrepresented himself as licensed but previously had his licensed taken away for telling people they had to put down owner as contractor and pull their own permits. That’s a huge mitigating factor for the homeowner.

Don't homeowners need to do their own due diligence?

It is not as if licenses are not public info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that’s super interesting about this hearing is that it turns out the homeowner actually did use a contractor who misrepresented himself as licensed but previously had his licensed taken away for telling people they had to put down owner as contractor and pull their own permits. That’s a huge mitigating factor for the homeowner.

Don't homeowners need to do their own due diligence?

It is not as if licenses are not public info.

Yes, this was mentioned several times at the hearing. There is a website you can verify these things. Contrary to that PP, ignorance is not an excuse luckily.