Tree House in VA

[Eagle732]

Fox News this morning interviewed the dad and two boys who built a tree house in their back yard in Fairfax, VA. Both boys were interviewed in their Scout uniforms. I wonder why dad decided to put the boys in uniform?

[Tampa Turtle]

Maybe to make it harder for code enforcement to make them tear it down?

[SSScout]

Mebbe that's their "good clothes".

 

Are they going to live in the tree house? Why was it newsworthy? Haven't seen the story.

[moxieman]

We had a similar issue up here in Maine this summer. I don't recall if it was a parent or grandparent. He built a treehouse for his son/grandson and was forced to remove it. Not because he forgot to get a permit, but because it was 2 ft too close to the lake and within the shoreland (no development) zone. He got the town to compromise and allow him to leave it up through the end of summer.

[SSScout]

This is the link/report I found. They mention the boys earning Scout badges, but no uniforms to be seen here.

 

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/virginia/falls-church-homeowners-treehouse-found-to-be-in-violation-of-fairfax-countys-zoning-laws-101011

 

Zoning board threatens with demo order,tree house is a REALLY NICE one, the PTB consider it an addition to the main house.

[moxieman]

The article in our local paper states he was originally told he didn't need a permit and that's why he proceeded to build it. How long do you think that city/county official will keep his job over this?

[Eagle732]

Here's the link to the story:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1216072056001/town-wants-military-dad-to-tear-down-sons-treehouse

Both boys in uniform, one a Cub and the other a Boy Scout.

My question is, is it appropriate to wear the uniform in this situation?

[artjrk]

As the owner stated in the article, the treehouse is on the side of his house. He must live on a corner though. When on a corner the city considers you to have two front yards and two side yards. I had the same issue when building a shed when I lived on the corner. The treehouse probably falls under the regulations as a shed, meaning he doesn't need a permit if it is under a certain size.(ie 150 sq. ft.) Also sheds must be in the back yard. On a corner lot they consider the area directly behind the house to be the operative back yard. To put one on the side you would still need a variance. He may have asked if he needed a permit for a treehouse and was told that he didn't. It may never of come up in conversation that he was on a corner lot.

 

In my case I was just finishing the shingles when I got the letter informing me I was in violation of the town ordinances. I went to the zoning commission meeting and received a variance because I was able to show that I could not use my small back yard due to a major powerline that tranversed my "BackYard" I also received letters from my neighbors of no complaint. I also had put the shed too close to the house but that was due to water drainage. In the end I was able to keep the much needed shed. The money saved by not getting a permit was spent for the variance.