I have been pondering putting this story to paper for the last couple of months but hesitated in the hopes that I wouldn’t have to go medieval prematurely. I am now happy to report that this time I can actually refrain from going into a total Douche of the Week rant on the Fairfax County Board of Zoning. Instead, I can give them credit for properly pulling their collective heads out of their asses and doing the right thing.
It all started last year when Army National Guard Aviator Mark Grapin was about to be deployed to Iraq. Like many of us do to ease the pain of separation, Mark made a promise to his sons, Sean and Eric. The promise, when he returned from Iraq, he would build them a kick-ass tree house. Time passed and Grapin returned safely from his deployment. The boys, who hung on to the promise the entire length of the deployment, were quick to remind Grapin of his promise upon his return.
Grapin contacted the county’s building office to make sure that it was going to be okay for him to start the project, even before he purchased any of the $1400 in building materials he would eventually use, and was assured by them that he was good to go with no building permits required. He built the 58 square foot tree house, which I must say looks pretty bad-ass, and all was good until a neighbor filed an anonymous complaint.
Soon after the complaint was filed, Grapin received a written violation from the County Zoning office. It seems that the treehouse was in violation of zoning ordinances and Grapin would have to file for a variance of the laws. After filing all the paperwork and an additional $1800 in fees for the various permits and variances it was ultimately denied. The nation caught wind of his struggles to please his young sons and worldwide support for Grapin and his conflict with the zoning board began to swell.
During this time, Grapin appealed the decision to the County Board of Zoning and was awaiting his hearing date, but all the while he know in the back of his mind that he may actually have to tear down the tree house and had prepared his sons for what seemed inevitable. The date of the hearing came and Grapin in his dress uniform and his army of attorney’s (which were provided pro bono – thanks to the law firm Reed Smith) settled in for a battle of treehouse proportions.
When it was all said and done the zoning board voted unanimously to approve the tree house to the collective cheer of everyone in attendance. There was only caveat; the treehouse will have to be torn down in 5 years. In five years his sons will be 14 and 15 years-old and I really don’t think they’ll still have much interest in the structure, but they will be able to revel its full glory until then.
I applaud Mark Grapin for his unyielding support of his family and being a fine example of being the little guy who never quit. Many people would have folded right away to the pressures of the government but Mark stood up and fought like the Soldier he is and for what he believed in. After the hearing Mark said “Thank you for the support. You’re all welcome to come and take a trip down the slide.”
I just might do that!
sometimes as a father, you make those promises, and you gotta follow through. Great that he did. And like you said, glad they pulled out their collective heads.