Mason District Council surveys residents on code compliance issues

This house, in the Alexandria section of Mason District, was declared blighted in 2012.

The Mason District Council of Community Associations is urging residents to respond to a survey on code compliance issues.

The survey seeks feedback on public perceptions about the county’s enforcement of property code violations, the impact on the quality of life in Mason District, and suggestions for improving the current code enforcement system. To access the survey, select “take survey” in the upper left corner of the MDC website.

The results will be shared with the public and county officials at an MDC town hall meeting on Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m., at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School. Invited panelists include Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance Director Jeff Blackford, Code Compliance Supervisor Susan Epstein, and Deputy County Executive Robert Stalzer.

The meeting will have a question-and-answer format to encourage an exchange of ideas among Mason residents and the panelists.

The Department of Code Compliance is responsible for receiving complaints and enforcing zoning violations, relating to such quality-of-life issues as cars parked on lawns, debris in yards, overcrowded houses, uncut grass, building renovations carried out without permits, and hoarding. The department enforces zoning regulations on property maintenance, building codes, blight, fire codes, and health codes.

“We have heard from countless residents who have voiced their frustration with code violations and the county’s enforcement capability. With our latest survey, we’re asking residents to help shed more light on the issues they see—and their suggestions for positive change,” said MDC Chair Mollie Loeffler.

“The council is actively urging the Department of Code Compliance and elected officials to respond to citizen concerns and revise code enforcement procedures to dramatically improve outcomes,” she said.

The current survey is a follow-up to an MDC survey conducted last year that drew over 600 responses. More than 67 percent of Mason residents who responded said they were concerned about overcrowding. As of the end of 2013, Mason District had the highest number of open and unresolved cases involving multiple occupancy, followed by Providence and Lee districts.