Massive home addition causes confusion in Fairfax County neighborhood

[Anonymous]

I have Vietnamese in-laws. The family and extended relatives are essentially thought of as one large family unit. You do things for family because they're family. For example, my husband sends money to Vietnam for relatives that's he's never met, because that's what his family does (there's a bit of guilt over who got out a generation ago during the War and who didn't and therefore relatives still in Vietnam get a little help from relatives living abroad). If a relative calls us that they're coming to visit DC and needs a place to sleep for a couple of nights, my husband offers the basement bedroom. Our house is too small to accommodate longer stays, but other relatives have welcomed extended family for months at a time.

I am 100% against this monstrous addition. Anyone with any ethics and morals should have known that sometimes the law allows you something that common sense does not (and as it turns out, the setback calculation was off by 6 inches). These people are extremely disrespectful to their neighbors, and they should do not receive the variance allowing them to continue construction. I hope they will be forced to tear it down.

But I just wanted to explain the family culture of many people of Vietnamese extraction, who considers themselves the owner, the desire to live multigenerationally, etc.

[Anonymous]

Why is it so common for people to do things like break zoning laws and then claim innocence and ask for a variance? I hate that sort if sleazy dishonesty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The story has made the Washington Post and in the comment section someone claims that the addition was planned for kitchens on each floor and the intention is after the extra space is no longer needed (I guess the grandparents perish? Or the kids go off to college or both) that he will be renting the levels out as apartments.

Of course. The whole house will eventually be a four family rental property.

[Anonymous]

This is a cautionary tale for why living in a neighborhood with a HOA is better than one without, even if (and because) you cannot indulge in your every idiosyncratic whim with respect to your property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a cautionary tale for why living in a neighborhood with a HOA is better than one without, even if (and because) you cannot indulge in your every idiosyncratic whim with respect to your property.

On some level, I do agree with this. I live in this neighborhood and would have no problem with an HOA. We came down to this house and another in Franklin Farm. The HOA aspect never really crossed my mind while picking. My biggest complaint up to this point is that buying into the members-only pool in this hood is now a $3k upfront payment. I have better things to do with that much money.

The fact that this was allowed by the county is absolutely shocking. I honestly don’t understand how code allows something this ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a cautionary tale for why living in a neighborhood with a HOA is better than one without, even if (and because) you cannot indulge in your every idiosyncratic whim with respect to your property.

On some level, I do agree with this. I live in this neighborhood and would have no problem with an HOA. We came down to this house and another in Franklin Farm. The HOA aspect never really crossed my mind while picking. My biggest complaint up to this point is that buying into the members-only pool in this hood is now a $3k upfront payment. I have better things to do with that much money.

The fact that this was allowed by the county is absolutely shocking. I honestly don’t understand how code allows something this ridiculous.

The issue is that HOAs regulate things like aesthetics, while the County is much more limited in what it chooses to regulate. Together, reasonable HOA regulations and typical governmental building and zoning regulations prevent rogue property owners from behaving irresponsibly. While people often complain that HOAs limit their freedom to do as they please, that's usually not a bad thing for the community and for the neighbors, even if a specific individual homeowner might chafe under the limits they signed on to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I have Vietnamese in-laws. The family and extended relatives are essentially thought of as one large family unit. You do things for family because they're family. For example, my husband sends money to Vietnam for relatives that's he's never met, because that's what his family does (there's a bit of guilt over who got out a generation ago during the War and who didn't and therefore relatives still in Vietnam get a little help from relatives living abroad). If a relative calls us that they're coming to visit DC and needs a place to sleep for a couple of nights, my husband offers the basement bedroom. Our house is too small to accommodate longer stays, but other relatives have welcomed extended family for months at a time.

I am 100% against this monstrous addition. Anyone with any ethics and morals should have known that sometimes the law allows you something that common sense does not (and as it turns out, the setback calculation was off by 6 inches). These people are extremely disrespectful to their neighbors, and they should do not receive the variance allowing them to continue construction. I hope they will be forced to tear it down.

But I just wanted to explain the family culture of many people of Vietnamese extraction, who considers themselves the owner, the desire to live multigenerationally, etc.

They can go back to n Vietnam

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a cautionary tale for why living in a neighborhood with a HOA is better than one without, even if (and because) you cannot indulge in your every idiosyncratic whim with respect to your property.

On some level, I do agree with this. I live in this neighborhood and would have no problem with an HOA. We came down to this house and another in Franklin Farm. The HOA aspect never really crossed my mind while picking. My biggest complaint up to this point is that buying into the members-only pool in this hood is now a $3k upfront payment. I have better things to do with that much money.

The fact that this was allowed by the county is absolutely shocking. I honestly don’t understand how code allows something this ridiculous.

Back on page 10 or something someone posted the permit:

Here is the permit application. https://plus.fairfaxcounty.gov/CitizenAccess/...m_source=chatgpt.com

The question of “is/will there be an Accessory Living Unit or Accessory Dwelling Unit?” Was answered “no”

It looks like there are blatant falsehoods in there that were approved. Can anyone see who approved it (signed their name to all this) and what their track record is and if they are obviously checked out or taking bribes or what

[Anonymous]

The link above to the building application is not working. Try this link https://plus.fairfaxcounty.gov/CitizenAccess/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=Building&TabName=Building&capID1=REC25&capID2=00000&capID3=00RB7&agencyCode=FFX&IsToShowInspection=

Under record details, more details and then click additional details. That is where the answer to the question about an ADU can be found.

[Anonymous]

I’m 100% FOR this kind of addition. They did nothin wrong and is allowed by the zoning in place. We need to eliminate zoning and let people do what they want with their land. Don’t like it? Buy your own land and don’t develop it

[Anonymous]

yes on one hand all the liberals want affordable housing BUT Not in my neighborhood, leave me alone in my shitty 1 story rambler on too much land, no density lol

[Anonymous]

Most lots in this hood are .25 acre or less. We’re not talking about tons of land. And we’re not upset about additions or renovations in general. Or in law suites, as we have lots of multi generational families here (it is a very diverse community). This one is just so ridiculously huge and will cause issues for the neighbors on this street. There will likely be parking problems and then drainage, runoff, etc. not to mention water and sewage usage for one compound. It isn’t as though there aren’t apartments, condos or townhouses nearby.

There are zoning laws for a reason. This might be within the technical limits, but it certainly doesn’t follow the spirit of them. There is little chance that this man isn’t building illegal apartments, and trying to call it family housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 100% FOR this kind of addition. They did nothin wrong and is allowed by the zoning in place. We need to eliminate zoning and let people do what they want with their land. Don’t like it? Buy your own land and don’t develop it

We live in a society and have laws. If you don’t like that, buy an island and move there I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 100% FOR this kind of addition. They did nothin wrong and is allowed by the zoning in place. We need to eliminate zoning and let people do what they want with their land. Don’t like it? Buy your own land and don’t develop it

What other laws is this guy going to be allowed to break? Do you suppose he will discriminate when it comes to who he rents to? Or will the authorities look the other way when he refuses to rent to anyone outside his ethnic community?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think he’s allowed to put full kitchens in this thing. So the illegal apartments will likely have hot plates.