Forum educates community on zoning and building rules
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| One of the first things people saw after leaving a forum on code compliance were cars illegally parked on the grass on Columbia Pike. |
A Community Forum on Code Compliance, hosted by the
Annandale Roundtable May 22, was aimed at educating residents, including
immigrants, about community norms on property maintenance rules they might not
be familiar with. Mason Supervisor Penny Gross told the audience, “there is a
learning curve,” noting that, “for many people in this room, this will be new
information.”
Annandale Roundtable May 22, was aimed at educating residents, including
immigrants, about community norms on property maintenance rules they might not
be familiar with. Mason Supervisor Penny Gross told the audience, “there is a
learning curve,” noting that, “for many people in this room, this will be new
information.”
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| Department of Code Compliance investigator Elvis Bello speaks at the community forum. |
Organizers of the forum, held at the Annandale United Methodist Church (AUMC) on Columbia Pike, strove for an atmosphere of civility
and respectfulness. Previous meetings on code compliance issues were dominated
by complaints from homeowners who feel rules on property maintenance aren’t
being enforced.
and respectfulness. Previous meetings on code compliance issues were dominated
by complaints from homeowners who feel rules on property maintenance aren’t
being enforced.
Annandale Roundtable member Rev. Clarence Brown, senior
pastor at AUMC, set the tone by opening the meeting with a prayer. Brown called
the forum “one way to engender a community where everyone is able to thrive.”
pastor at AUMC, set the tone by opening the meeting with a prayer. Brown called
the forum “one way to engender a community where everyone is able to thrive.”
The Annandale Roundtable is an informal group of community
stakeholders formed in response to the Dialogues on Diversity organized by the
Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) and held
at Annandale High School in 2011 and 2012.
stakeholders formed in response to the Dialogues on Diversity organized by the
Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) and held
at Annandale High School in 2011 and 2012.
The auditorium was packed as the forum started. But there
was a steady flow of people leaving once things got started. Everything said by the presenters was
translated first into Korean, then Spanish, a time-consuming process helpful for
many in the audience, but perhaps tedious for the native English speakers.
was a steady flow of people leaving once things got started. Everything said by the presenters was
translated first into Korean, then Spanish, a time-consuming process helpful for
many in the audience, but perhaps tedious for the native English speakers.
The session was facilitated by Elisa Lueck of NCS. Elvis Bello and Vicky Dzierzek, investigators
with the Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance, presented an overview of
what’s allowed in terms of county codes and zoning ordinances on building
safety, multiple occupancy, business signage, home-based businesses, hoarding, and
home and yard maintenance.
with the Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance, presented an overview of
what’s allowed in terms of county codes and zoning ordinances on building
safety, multiple occupancy, business signage, home-based businesses, hoarding, and
home and yard maintenance.
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| Temporary banners, like this one on a convenience store on Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads, are prohibited. |
These are huge issues in Mason District, which has an aging
housing stock, a lack of affordable housing, and a demographic mix dominated by
aging homeowners and young families from other countries.
housing stock, a lack of affordable housing, and a demographic mix dominated by
aging homeowners and young families from other countries.
When it comes to overcrowding, Bello said, a family plus two
unrelated people can share a house or four unrelated people can live together.
Any more than that is not allowed. Homeowners cannot carve out a second dwelling unit in a
single-family house. That means a house can’t have a separate unit
with a food preparation area, sleeping area, living area, and bathroom.
unrelated people can share a house or four unrelated people can live together.
Any more than that is not allowed. Homeowners cannot carve out a second dwelling unit in a
single-family house. That means a house can’t have a separate unit
with a food preparation area, sleeping area, living area, and bathroom.
Also prohibited are junkyards with more than five inoperable
vehicles, backyard storage areas full of appliances or building materials, and
cars parked on the grass.
vehicles, backyard storage areas full of appliances or building materials, and
cars parked on the grass.
Code inspectors give homeowners a period of time to fix a
problem. Unsafe conditions that could be a fire or health hazard, like faulty
electrical wiring or the lack of egress, need to be addressed immediately. If
property owners fail to fix a problem, they are taken to court.
problem. Unsafe conditions that could be a fire or health hazard, like faulty
electrical wiring or the lack of egress, need to be addressed immediately. If
property owners fail to fix a problem, they are taken to court.
The most frequent complaints have to do with signage, Bello
said. Businesses are not allowed to have temporary banners on their buildings,
for example. Large trucks in parking lots with banners are also not allowed.
said. Businesses are not allowed to have temporary banners on their buildings,
for example. Large trucks in parking lots with banners are also not allowed.
Complaints can be submitted to the Department of Code
Compliance online or by calling 703-324-1300.
Compliance online or by calling 703-324-1300.
3 responses to “Forum educates community on zoning and building rules”
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Please get with the program, its the new and vogue slum look…….Fairfax's future, get use to it, nobody wants to make it stop.
" Homeowners cannot carve out a second dwelling unit in a single-family house. That means a house can’t have a separate unit with a food preparation area, sleeping area, living area, and bathroom."
HAH, NOT ACCORDING TO FORSHEE….ALL SUCH NON COMPLIANCE ISSUES ARE "IN COMPLIANCE"
ACCORDING TO HIM…HE'S NEVER SEEN A VIOLATION HE DIDN'T LIKE….AND SO WE ARE CURSED WITH THE SLUM LOOK BECAUSE HE'S TOO LAZY TO ENFORCE THE CODE.
Personally, I have a very difficult time with the Code Compliance issues in my neighborhood, the devaluation of my property as a result and the County's lack of enforcement. All these meetings serve only one purpose – to make Supervisor Gross feel as though she has somehow helped — her reelection campaign.