Why Do Virginia Bureaucrats Hate Treehouses?

Do you love treehouses? Of course, you do. Who doesn't like treehouses, especially one as great as this one by Mark Grapin of Falls Church, Virginia.

Well, actually, the county officials don't:

First, Grapin checked with the county’s building department. A friendly employee told him that, no, he did not need a building permit and to have a nice day.

So off he went to the hardware store for the materials to construct a 58-square-foot treehouse — painted red, with a pitched roof and orange window shutters and braced with stilts — around the only sturdy tree on their Falls Church property.

What Grapin did not realize was that because he lives in a corner lot at Marc Drive and Parkwood Terrace, he would need a variance to build any such structure in what the zoning code considers a front yard. Responding to two anonymous complaints, a county inspector went around to have a look. Soon, the Grapins received notice that they were in violation of Section 10-104 (12C) of the county zoning code.

Now, after an exhaustive battle against the local bureaucracy, Mark Grapin would have to tear down his sons' treehouse: Link


Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

If "an undocumented family from central america" lived in the structure and sent their children to Fairfax county schools the Fairfax county zoneing department would turn their heads or if the same family left the stucture out on the curb for trash pick up for six months that would be OK with them as well !
THATS RIGHT I SAID IT!!
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
That is a frickin eyesore. The complaint lodger was probably somoene who cared about their own property value.

Dude spends $1400 on a treehouse and not a penny on some decent landscaping. Maybe if he did more with the yard than just grass and a few trees, the structure wouldn't stand out like a sore thumb so much.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"Why Do Virginia Bureaucrats Hate Treehouses?"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More