Dad Fights Zoning Board's Order to Destroy Backyard Tree House

Fox News ^ | October 17, 2011 | Todd Starnes

[Immerito]

A zoning board in Fairfax County, Va., is standing firm in its decision to order a war veteran to destroy a tree house he built for his two young sons.

County officials determined Mark Grapin, an Army aviation specialist, violated zoning regulations when he built a tree house in his backyard.

“The boys wanted a tree house,” Grapin told Fox News Radio, explaining it was a promise he made to his 8-year-old and 10-year-old sons before he left for Iraq. “It was a commitment I made to the boys and, frankly, we should do our best to keep our commitments to our children."

So when Grapin returned home, he followed through on that promise and headed off to the local home improvement store. He said he contacted Fairfax County and was given assurances that he didn’t need any special permits to build the $1,400 tree house.

But it turns out – that wasn’t exactly accurate.

[Jacquerie]

No kidding. Where is the fun for boys if there is no chance of getting hurt?

[familyop]

"Come the revolution there should be a special firing squad for zoning officials and building inspectors."

They're irrelevant with the western economic collapse in process anyway. Besides, most of the potential buyers (elite corporate/divorcing hags) hire private inspectors because of the common corruption in county governments.

Government won't willingly shrink itself, so starve the beast! Become more self-sufficient each month, and avoid buying anything that you don't need.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

“I say this country will never go back to the founders design until this concept of PERMIT needed on your own land, goes away.”

I couldn’t agree more!

[FritzG]

Honestly, it's very blah. Not much of a risk of life on that one. Not much of a 'tree' involved as well. ugh.

We were blessed to have them in Live Oaks or other types of trees, not a telephone pole.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Carpeting and aluminum siding?
You boys really roughed it up in that tree house, eh?

[sand88]

Come the revolution there should be a special firing squad for zoning officials and building inspectors.

The human scum attracted to such positions have a very, very deep sadistic streak. They have evil in their hearts. They live to make people's lives miserable.

In a truly free society there would be NO government inspectors or government code requirements for anything done on one's property.

The marketplace would be superior to government in solving ANY and ALL problems that government "codes" reportedly solve. The mechanisms to accomplish this are even allowed to come into existence because government parasites have moved in with monopoly control.

[mylife]

They were scraps.

[sarasmom]

A picture of the tree house would be a nice touch, wouldn’t it?
Nothing available at the linked article ...
I wonder why not?

[Mears]

My boys and their friends built one on a small wooded area on our property,but in a thickly settled suburban area.

Took them about a week.

Then it was torched and no one had any idea who did it.

No harm or damage to anything but the “cabin”.

God,am I glad those days are behind me.

[George from New England]

“The human scum attracted to such positions have a very, very deep sadistic streak. They have evil in their hearts. They live to make people’s lives miserable. “

The same thing can be said of virtually every social worker.
I have first hand experience as a grandfather.

[GenXteacher]

10 man squad, armed with double-barrel 12 gauges, no blanks, all barrels carrying 000 buck, all barrels fired simultaneously at a range of 10 feet.

[jwalsh07]

And you thought you owned your property, didn’t you?

[LostInBayport]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...liberals hate children, they hate the innocence of childhood and the freedom and wonder it holds.

[freedomfiter2]

Don’t be sad, get angry.

[goat granny]

Many years back my dad use to talk about the little one horse towns filled with little dictators. Nothing has changed in the last 60 years. We still have one horse towns fulled with little dictators...

[marktwain]

Zoning was forced on much of the country as part the Progressive plan to control everything. It is the local way to tyranny. Here in Yuma, we did not get it until 1976. It was voted down, then the County installed it anyway, saying they “had” to do it to get federal “revenue sharing”.

It is about as unAmerican as you can get. It turns the American system on its head. Most zoning codes start with the premise: Anything not allowed in this code is forbidden,

The whole American system is based on the idea that anything that is not forbidden is allowed!

[terycarl]

I have lived in Waukesha and Milwaukee Wis, Indianapolis and Logansport, Indiana....plus a few other places.I have sided a couple of buildings, built a 60X100 business building, numerous storage sheds, a garage, roofed several buildings, did numerous remodeling (interior) jobs, tore down several out buildings etc. etc. and NEVER applied for a “building permit” I don’t need my community’s “permission” to do anything

[sand88]

The same thing can be said of virtually every social worker. I have first hand experience as a grandfather.

I have seen a good number of friends have their families destroyed by social workers. The way they described the zealousness of these government sadists left me speechless. Most social workers would have easily fit into 30's Germany.

[TigersEye]

In the meantime, Grapin has had to pay nearly $1,800 in permits and fees to build the $1,400 tree house.

If they make him take it down they should give back all of his money. But you know they won't.

[maine-iac7]

Pictures, need pictures of the tree house.

Awww - your mouse not working? You can't click on the link?