Laurie Cole: Views that Change with the Seasons

Council Member Laurie Cole's (706 Spring Street, SE) views and actions in regards to the Windover Heights Historic District are especially egregious.

Consider a 2001 question Laurie Cole, then as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals, asked the Town Zoning Administrator:

"The Town's designation of the Windover Heights area as an historic area, does that impose any strictures [restrictions] on subdividing land, tearing down houses, protecting houses. Its not a preservation district is it?"

The Town Zoning Administrator responded:

"No. It's not. A good example is 308 West Street which was removed perhaps 2 years ago and there are two new homes in its place."

Laurie Cole clearly knows the Windover Heights Historic District is not a zoning ordinance. But that doesn't stop her from making these outlandish statements in this 2004 video.

We suggest Mrs. Cole review her question above from 2001. She might also seek the advice of the current Vienna Town Attorney Steve Briglia (Briglia & Hundley, P.C.) who would tell her that the Windover Heights Historic District has nothing to do with zoning.

She should also refresh her memory with the words of the former Town Attorney:

"The act of including or not including the property in the historic District is not a zoning or rezoning action and therefore, cannot be spot zoning. The age of the structure has no bearing on whether or not it should be included in the district. Your attention is invited to Section 18-280.2 of the Town's zoning ordinance concerning the boundaries of the Windover Heights Historic district. You will note that it is a historic district created by boundary and makes no reference to the age or character of the structures within the boundary.