May 2008 Archives
May 31, 2008
Monday June 2 Vienna Town Hall 8pm Comments (3)
There is an appeal to be heard Monday night at Vienna Town Hall. An applicant wanted to build a new house in Vienna's flimsy historic district, something done by numerous other property owners. But this property owner was turned down by the Windover Board of Review. Monday is the appeal to Town Council. Bring popcorn!
May 29, 2008
Fireworks Suit Comments (14)
Did the people who were hurt last year at Vienna's 4th of July sue Vienna? Was there a settlement? Does anyone know?
Dangerous ViVa Vienna Attack Has Parents Frightened Comments (16)
Read. How did this happen? Weren't Jane and Maud dressed up as cops again this year patrolling?
May 28, 2008
Town Green Fountain Comments (11)
This site is no fan of the Town Green or the fountain installed there. But now that they have fixed the fountain has anyone observed the end result? Clearly, the fix has created a fountain operation never intended. It was bad to begin with, but now the water flow is messed up even more. Sure, it doesn't leak now, but look at it!
Don't Make Seeman Work Hard. Don't You People Know Better? Comments (2)
A response from Seeman to Vienna resident:
The letter from Judicial Watch offered suggestions and comments and did not require an answer. Chief of Police Carlisle is meeting with the Cedar Lane Shopping Center management at which time citizens' safety concerns will be discussed. The Town has met with the Center's management previously with satisfactory outcomes. These issues are addressed on a regular basis I suggest that if you need further information about the suggestions offered by Judicial Watch, you contact Chief Carlisle at rcarlisle@viennava.gov or 703-255-6390. M. Jane Seeman, Mayor Town of Vienna, 703-255-6310, mayor@viennava.gov.
May 19, 2008
Official: House in Historic District for Sale Under the Big Lie Comments (13)
A house for sale in the Vienna historic district is currently being promoted with the detail that Thomas Jefferson planted trees in the front yard. The house? It was built in the 1970s. The tree story? 100% fabrication. For those people who like it a little more blunt: the people saying this are lying.
"Maud, please let me stop, everyone knows we are lying!"
May 18, 2008
Cedar Lane Back in the News Comments (22)
This letter (PDF) was sent to Jane Seeman by Judicial Watch.
"Keep up the good work Jane!"
Non-Partisan Is A Problem Comments (1)
The politicians in Vienna have always bragged about the wonderful non-partisan nature of Vienna. Why is it so wonderful? Non-partisan politics in Vienna has devolved to the point that no one is accountable to anyone. It's almost as if Vienna politicians have developed into one political blob that stands for nothing - either left or right. It would be nice to see Vienna politicians stand for something and be accountable. As of now it is a a smoke and mirrors racket that allows the current crop to hide behind a non-partisan label.
May 12, 2008
The Vienna Historic District Exposed; Charles Anderson & Carey Sienicki Are Corrupt Politicians Comments (5)
For those who care that the Town of Vienna is wasting taxpayer money on the idiotic historic district consider some facts and May 2008 events:
1. There are no rules for what can be built in the historic district. There are no approved designs, colors or materials. Over the years any and everything for most people has been approved. We say most since it is clear that the Town of Vienna Club government treats different people differently.
2. Nothing in the Windover Heights Historic District has been documented. There is no baseline established or inventory created to allow reasonable people to judge what was exactly in this neighborhood when the District was created. Now today the entire process is subjective and squishy which allows the Town to do what they want for each and every application with absolutely no consistency.
3. Over the years multiple homes in the District have been torn down and replaced. However, an applicant came before this board on Tuesday making the same case that other residents have made. This time this applicant was denied.
4. The Tuesday May 6, 2008 meeting was spearheaded by Charles Anderson (the guy who built a new house and had it added to the historic district without any review board review; he now sits on the historic review board) and Carey Sienicki. Here is their decision-making process and vote 'no'. When you finish watching please go puke in the toilet as a salute to them and their queen Maud.
Do those two people look confident in what they are doing? Or do they both look like they just **** their pants hoping that no one else in Vienna is paying attention? How would you feel if your new house had just been turned down by board members who clearly either don't know what they are doing OR are purposefully treating you different in violation of the United States Constitution? How would you feel when your neighbors had not been turned down, but you are? And especially when that rejection will cause months in delays and thousands of dollars, how would you feel?
May 11, 2008
Carey Sienicki: Abhorrent Example of No Ethics Comments (2)
Tuesday night Carey Sienicki, the Chairwoman of the Windover Heights Historic District, led the charge to deny an applicant who wanted to build a new house. While numerous individuals living in the Windover Heights Historic District have torn their house down and built new ones, Sienicki singled this applicant out with arbitrary and capricious demands not rooted in law. Carey Sienicki should figuratively be tarred and feathered. She should be run out of Vienna as an immoral con artist who has the used the power of government to further her own sick and twisted agenda.
Parents of Louise Archer listen up. This is not a woman you want your children around. She is not someone you want teaching your children anything. She should be tossed off the Louise Archer PTA Board immediately. Sienicki apparently thinks she can have a normal life by day, pretending to be an upstanding member of the community, but then by night she screws over 30+ year residents of Vienna on a whim for kicks. She is the worst Vienna has to offer. We as a community cannot let crooked individuals like Sienicki participate in our government. It is time to take a stand by stomping out corrupt political hacks such as Carey Sienicki.
When this woman shows up looking to "volunteer" or "help"...our community should know what they are dealing with and say "go crawl back under a rock Carey".
Here is a two-part example of Sienicki in action at a prior review board meeting:
May 09, 2008
Laurie Cole & the Historic District Comments (9)
Council Member Laurie Cole's views and actions in regards to the Windover Heights Historic District were clear in the 2004 Sagatov case. How did she come to that conclusion when in 2001 Cole, then as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals, asked the Town Zoning Administrator this question:
"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. Cole also understands the words of the former Town Attorney from 1998 that were used to justify adding Charles Anderson's new house into the Historic District:
"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.
May 07, 2008
Should Vienna Exist as An Independent Town? Comments (17)
From a reader:
This morning I sent an e-mail to the mayor stating that for the first time in 30+ years of living in Vienna, I have chosen not to vote. It hurts. First, with no opposition, and no town matters to deal with, why bother. Secondly, to vote in this election would indicate support for the way the town conducts business. The town does not have my support. As I stated to the mayor, over the past few years I have grown to hate this town. I have the feeling that I will soon be moving, not the move I want to make, but to Fairfax Memorial. At least Vienna will be a thing of the past. As a last note, the Metro Section of the Washington Post had a nice little piece on local town elections. There was no mention of the Town of Vienna at all. I have stated several times in the past, that Vienna is a boil on the butt of Fairfax County and Northern Virginia. It should be lanced. Gilman Aldridge
Seal of Approval, Ignorance or Disgust? Comments (4)
From the papers:
Four unopposed incumbents were re-elected to two-year terms in a contest marked by low voter turnout. Only 745 of the town's 10,678 registered voters cast votes, a turnout of 7 percent.
May 01, 2008
Hiding Behind Mommy Maud Comments (12)
In attempt to get a copy of Laine Hyde's report to the Police during the Walk on the Hill, this message was received from the Town of Vienna:
"In response to your request, please be advised that these records are exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3706, Subsection F 1, and therefore will not be released."
Hiding is what Vienna officials do best.
Guess which Council member I am?
Charles Anderson of Capital Trade, Inc.: Devoid of Ethics and Integrity Comments (0)
Charles Anderson of Capital Trade
125 Pleasant Street was added to the Vienna Historic District without logical reason AND against the Vienna Planning Commission's recommendation in 1998. Apparently the only reason to be added to the District was Charles Anderson (Capital Trade) desire to be in it. However, Anderson waited for his house to be built BEFORE seeking admission to the District. He avoided the review process that all others must endure. This same property was also removed from the District in 1991. Additionally, it should be noted that this property was put in the District against the wishes of the original owner in 1979.
"...the Commission felt there is a problem with redrawing the District's lines just to take in a single property - instead a group of lots that would create a cleaner boundary. The desire to maintain the integrity of the District's boundary convinced the majority to vote 4-2 to recommend denial of the proposed ordinance. If the ordinance was approved to include just 125 Pleasant Street, NW, the Town creates an anomaly whereby you have one non-included property next door to the Anderson's [125 Pleasant] as an "inholding" in the District. The majority did not want such an irregular boundary." Sydney Verinder, Chair Planning Commission, 1998
"Certain Commissioners were concerned that the Anderson home is a new structure completed in September 1997 and is not historic. There was also some consideration of the fact that the structure was built without the benefit of review by the Historic Board..." Sydney Verinder, Chair Planning Commission, 1998
"It was unfortunately removed from the District at the request of its owner in the late 1980's, perhaps because of its proximity to commercial property and a belief that it, too, could become commercial. However, now that the Andersons have built a handsome house incorporating many historic details from older houses in the District, it is logical and appropriate that it be placed back in the District. It has always belonged there and surely belongs there now." Charles Sloan
Sloan's quote fails to acknowledge that NO "historical details" of the District (whatever that may mean) have EVER been inventoried. There is no objective evidence to say this new house incorporates details from older houses in the District. By this logic if you build a new house and it is deemed "handsome" by some, it should be included in the District. It should be noted that commercial property across the street from 125 Pleasant Street is owned by Charles Sloan.
The Town Council accepted Sloan's logic and rejected their Planning Commission's recommendation.
In Charles Anderson's letter to the Planning Commission dated May 14, 2003 he argues:
"The Windover Heights Historic District is a residential historic district, with no commercially zoned properties within it's boundaries."
The Town Council removed the transitional office building from the District in 1991. Anderson left that fact out of his lobbying effort. Andeson continues:
"Moreover, the pattern of pre-existing development rendered 243 Church Street an unattractive residential location."
Anderson continues:
"A quick review of information on historic districts posted on the internet demonstrates that boundary extensions are a common feature of historic district administration."
The Windover Heights Historic District is supposed to be defined in law. While boundary extension may be common in some random district Anderson found on the internet, it is not part of law in the Town of Vienna.
Busy Month Comments (4)
April 2008 was the second busiest website traffic month ever for HistoricVienna.com.
