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October 03, 2006
Heavy Construction Storage Comments (18)
Here is an updated picture from the last weekend of the former 7-11 store on Tapawingo. The site is being used for heavy construction equipment storage as of now. A rezoning request is expected.
July 03, 2006
Steve Bukont Builds 4-Story Town Houses Comments (19)
Can anyone explain why the new Bukont project on Locust Street is four stories tall when the height limit is 35 feet in Vienna?
Apparently, in the Town it is perfectly legal to build a building that exceeds 35 feet as long as you create an artificial dirt birm in the front of the building. That's exactly what Bukont will do with his Locust Street project. Make sense? Of course is makes no sense!
Consider pictures from both Steve Bukont projects:
Steve Bukont 4-Story Tall Locust Street Project
Steve Bukont 4-Story Tall Locust Street Project
Steve Bukont 4-Story Tall Locust Street Project
Steve Bukont Tapawingo & Glyndon Project (Before Demo)
Steve Bukont Tapawingo & Glyndon Project (Before Demo)
Steve Bukont Tapawingo & Glyndon Project (Before Demo)
Steve Bukont Tapawingo & Glyndon Project (Before Demo)
February 06, 2006
Affidavits Submitted to Council Comments (0)
Tonight (3) affidavits were submitted to Vienna Town Council attesting to Steve Bukont's exact language during his December 6, 2005 attack of Vienna citizens. Here is the video of tonight's presentation:
These affidavits were submitted in response to comments made by Laurie Cole, Maud Robinson and George Lovelace last week.
January 24, 2006
Resignations Pile Up; Steve Bukont Out Comments (0)
Since Spring 2003 the (5) member Windover Heights Board of Review has been a revolving door. Laine Hyde resigned under odd circumstances in 2003. Then Connie Stuntz resigned shortly after falsely claiming she owned property in Vienna. Then long time Chairman Tom Kamstra resigned shortly after lawsuits were filed seeking to have the District declared unconstitutional. John Scheib and Ed Umbrell also left the Board.
Now the current Chairman Steve Bukont has officially resigned via a letter to the Mayor. Bukont publicly declared his resignation (then rescinded it) on December 6, 2005 during his infamous f-bomb outburst. We expect our current investigation into conflicts of interest forced his "second" resignation dated January 13, 2006 - confirmed only today. This resignation appears to be permanent.
These resignations should raise alarming questions for Town leaders. How much taxpayer money will Maud Robinson blow to defend the fraud that is the Windover Heights Historic District? How many Historic Review Board members will be sacrificed in Robinson's feeble attempt to prop up a District about "nothing"? Leaders worth their salt solve problems. Real leaders do not bury their head in the sand and pretend its 1950.
December 16, 2005
Feedback from 'Steve Bukont's Neighbors' Comments (0)
Our posts on Chairman Steve Bukont have struck a chord as evidenced by this comment. In an effort to make sure it is well read, here is the anonymous post received today repeated and verbatim:
***
Dear Mayor Seeman:
A few questions for you:
- Why does the Town of Vienna allow resident Steve Bukont to operate his two multi-million dollar construction companies, Ayr Hill Homes and BFR Construction, out of his home in a residential neighborhood in violation of Town Home Occupancy Permit Regulations? We would be happy to enumerate and document these violations here on this website, incuding video of his clients, employees, and subcontractors visiting his home businesses throughout the day, week after week, without appointment; and his distributed storage of construction equipment and materials throughout the neighborhoods on residential properties he controls but which are not under development.
- Why has the Town of Vienna enlisted Steve Bukont (is he a licensed architect in the state of Virginia?) who is reknown for over-the-top "flights of fancy", to define the reconstuction of our Town center? Do Town residents really want their Town center to become a creeping Bukontville of pedestrian unfriendly, high-maintenance, fake Victorian, 'what is that for?' storefronts?
- Why has the Town of Vienna appointed Steve Bukont to chair a town board presiding over Town development and contruction regulation despite the obvious conflicts of interest with his private construction business activity within the Town and the now well-known fact that Steve Bukont is emotionally ill-equipped for public service?
- How many Town employees including close relatives such as [edit], have purchased a home from Steve Bukont or have had private business dealings with his companies?
- The Town is destined for long-term redevelopment. When will the Town establish and enforce firm, fair, and clear regulations to manage this growth, and not leave it to the subjective sentimental longing of a few for all things old and Victorian, and to whichever developer or applicant who has the most friends in the Town government or lays claim to the most Town boards?
- Do you intend to post Town police in Town meetings to intimidate legitimate free speech by Town residents, and will that matter here?
Feel free to post your reply here on this website or in the Town Newsletter.
Steve Bukont's Neighbors
December 11, 2005
Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely Comments (0)
During the summer of 2004 at a Town Council work session for the proposed construction of 315 Windover Avenue (now complete), Robert B. Petersen, a member of the Windover Heights Board of Review, was chastised by Maud Robinson for not coming up with a better design for the new house. Robinson tried to make Petersen look foolish in front of Town government. Petersen bit his tongue and did not respond in kind. However, during that same meeting Carey Sienicki asked about conducting a survey of the structures in the Historic District. Chairman of the Review Board Steve Bukont was in the room when Sienicki made her point.
Roll forward to Spring 2005 and listen to the question Petersen asks Bukont. Petersen wants to know when the survey that Sienicki spoke of the prior summer will be conducted. Bukont's response is clear.
Now roll forward to December 2005 and watch this video:
Steve Bukont knows full well that there are no "historic structures" in the Windover Heights Historic District. Nothing has been officially designated as "historic" in Vienna, but it still doesn't stop Bukont from pulling out a library book in an attempt to make up "historic structures". The end of the tape shows Bukont in a lie and his only option is to stutter. Mr. Bukont should reflect on a famous political quote from Adlai Stevenson:
"A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation."
December 09, 2005
Dear Mayor Seeman... Comments (2)
Dear Jane,
I expect by now you have been briefed on the actions of your Windover Heights Board of Review Chairman. If he [Steve Bukont] has not already officially resigned, I expect his prompt immediate removal from any and all Boards and or Commissions in this Town. The people of Vienna cannot tolerate out of control obscenity-laced tirades from political leaders. Mr. Bukont (Bukont house photo 1, 2, 3) doesn't have the capacity to control himself in a professional manner and does not deserve to participate in leadership roles in our Town government. The video online at www.historicvienna.com is one of the worst displays of behavior in the history of Vienna Town government. Myself and all other citizens at that meeting deserve a written apology.
December 07, 2005
Steve Bukont Throws F-Bombs Comments (0)
Steve Bukont, the Chairman of the Windover Heights Board of Review, showed the true colors of Vienna's "historic district" movement last night with a wild attack on another Town resident.
What leads up to this outburst by a government official? Early on in the meeting Bukont declared there were "historic structures" in the Windover Heights Historic District. When asked to define what structures were historic, Bukont actually appears to say that he is making it all up out of thin air:
Later in the meeting when asked a simple question about determining the appropriateness of one type of stone v. another, Bukont, shaking and threatening, goes ballistic:
Bukont was not done as he attacks two other residents:
For the record, Steve Bukont has built numerous homes for Town Council members and high-level Town staff. It is perfectly appropriate to question conflicts of interest, but apparently in Bukont's mind he is immune to such criticism. Immediately following that outburst Bukont stormed out of the Council chambers declaring that he had resigned. As he ran out of Town Hall he called various citizens "f**cking morons" and "f**cking nuts".
Steve Bukont Gives Obscenity-Laced Tirade: Welcome to Vienna! Comments (1)
In an obscenity-laced tirade, Chairman Steve Bukont, a multi-millionaire Vienna developer who owns Ayr Hill Homes, resigned last night from the Windover Heights Board of Review. Here is a video clip of Bukont in action as Chairman of the Windover Heights Board of Review (December 6, 2005):
Chairman Steve Bukont right before his 4-letter obscenity tirade.
Bukont called citizens "f**cking morons" and "f**cking nuts".
This type of intimidation is not acceptable from Town officials. It is definitely time for an outside investigation. Watch more of Bukont's tirade here.
December 05, 2005
Who Is Telling the Truth? Comments (0)
In 2005 Council Member Maud Robinson on "color":
In 2005 Windover Heights Board of Review Chairman Steve Bukont on "color":
One is clearly not telling the truth. Why should residents of Vienna tolerate officials in power playing fast and loose with the truth?
December 02, 2005
Steve Bukont on Court Battles: "This Isn't Europe" Comments (1)
Developer and Review Board Chairman Steve Bukont during a 2004 Town Council work session regarding the new house at 315 Windover Avenue offered candid wisdom:
Video Part 1:
Video Part 2:
Don't be fooled by Robinson's propaganda about protecting "property rights". Robinson fails to mention that there are NO rules. Bottom line: Maud Robinson is against your property rights. The evidence is clear.
Steve Bukont - Multi-Millionaire Vienna Developer
Steve Bukont and anti-property rights advocate Maud Robinson
November 29, 2005
Maud Robinson Questions Existence of the District Comments (0)
This web site is not the only voice declaring that it is time to go for the so-called historic district in Vienna. Maud Robinson (2004 video 10MG) discusses the possibility of disbanding the Windover Heights Historic District with Steve Bukont.
Maud Robinson
November 28, 2005
The Law, Bukont and Damon Comments (0)
The Town of Vienna created an enabling code that established the ground rules for enacting historic districts. The enabling code was used to establish the Windover Heights Historic District ordinance. Both of these documents are extremely vague and make little objective sense. Nonetheless, for now they are the "law". Interestingly, in 2004 (a year after two lawsuits were filed) the Windover Heights Board of Review was still confused about these laws. The people ruling over our property rights have no clue what the laws are. Watch the video of Steve Bukont and Shirley Damon as they search for legal answers.
A year later Bukont said this. How honest does this appear?
November 26, 2005
Steve Bukont: Time to Resign Comments (0)
One of the applicants at the May 4, 2004 Windover Heights Board of Review meeting was required to pay a special $15000 bond -- a first for the Windover Heights Historic District (WHHD). He was forced to do this since he was appearing for approval for a project already completed. The bond was the Town's "insurance" in case the Board did not approve the construction already completed. While that part of the story is interesting, the real story of the night was once again Board Chairman Steve Bukont.
This particular application caused an energetic debate between the Chair Steve Bukont and another Town citizen. This debate extended for nearly 30 minutes. During the debate, Mr. Bukont was the only member of the Board to speak.
Unfortunately, Mr. Bukont was less that forthright during the evening. After he vigorously defended both the District and this particular application, he then abstained during the vote citing a conflict. If Mr. Bukont had a conflict he should have recused himself from the beginning just as it is done at other Town meetings. Instead he led the discussion and influenced the vote only to back out when it was his turn to vote. This was flat out wrong.
Mr. Bukont said his conflict was due to a business relationship with both the builder and engineer of the applicant's project. Interestingly, it was later determined that Mr. Bukont had voted affirmatively for 5 past applications in the WHHD district where this same builder and engineer were involved. He did not recuse himself then. What changed now? We seriously doubt the three new Board members were aware of these 5 other votes.
Having a builder Chair a political body like the WHBR is wrong. Especially a builder with such close economic ties to Town Council members and Town staff. The Town would be well advised to do the right thing and ask for Mr. Bukont's resignation. It's one thing to be a builder, but his purely political actions of that night were a gross conflict of interest and present an image of back room dealing and an un-even playing field.
Watch this video to see the conflict in action.
November 25, 2005
The Missing Bukont-Hyde Tape Comments (2)
Laine Hyde appeared before the Windover Heights Board of Review in 1995. Steve Bukont was Hyde's builder and appeared with Hyde. The Town tapes all meetings. Interestingly, the verbatim tape of this meeting is the ONLY tape missing in the historical record.
Why is this important?
During the meeting, Syd Verinder, then Windover Review Board member and now Council member, asks what the guidelines are for the Historic District. He is told there are none by Town planner. Here is an excerpt of the extremely edited minutes the Town saves in written form:
"Mr. Verinder asked Ms. Steingasser if she could give him a brief overview of what the Town’s appropriate standards are. Ms. Steintgasser explained that the Town really does not have a set standard, but rather looks at what will blend in with the surroundings at any particular location."
The Town has a bad habit of severely altering the tone and detail in their so-called "official minutes". We can only guess why this one verbatim tape is missing. Was this tape destroyed by Town officials to obstruct justice?
Here is the picture of Hyde's house before it was torn down:
Click to See Large Image
Since Hyde's house was essentially leveled, no one will ever know if there actually was any "historical significance" to the dwelling.
November 23, 2005
Maud Robinson Sounds Off Comments (0)
Maud Robinson's recent words:
"We have talked about this a lot, but we have never done anything. The time has come to fish or cut bait. If we care about the historic district, if we think the ordinance is deficient let’s move ahead and do something. I would move that this matter, that a work session be held at the earliest possible date on the Windover board of review ordinance to examine it closely to see if it has any deficiencies and I would further invite members of the historic district who live up there, interested, concerned individuals to feel free to submit to the council any suggestions they have as to how to rectify any deficiencies the ordinance may have."
Interestingly, not long after Robinson said that, the Chairman of the Historic Review Board Steve Bukont said this:
"I have been advised by the Town Attorney to um…given that there is pending litigation that involves this board to wait for the resolution of that litigation so that the Town can advise us which direction they would like us to go. But they saw no need at this time to do that. They felt the ordinance was quite adequate as drafted and um we are welcome to make recommendations on our own but as far as the Town was concerned, that being the Town Attorney’s office, the ordinance stands and is quite adequate as it exists."
Why the contradiction between Robinson and Bukont?
It makes you wonder if Steve Bukont has now changed his tune to protect his multi-million dollar business...a business that depends on Maud Robinson's vote.
November 22, 2005
Steve Bukont of BFR Construction and Ayr Hill Homes Comments (1)
Listen to Bukont avoid the hard questions.
Steve Bukont is the owner of BFR Construction and Ayr Hill Homes. Bukont is also the Chairman of the Windover Heights Historic District. While Bukont the home builder has made millions off of a cozy relationship with the Vienna Town Council (he has built many of their homes too), many question his clear conflict of interest in serving as Chairman of the Historic Review Board.
Does it make sense that Chairman Bukont, through his arbitrary review board decisions, actively works to deny other citizens the right to build? Would he ever tolerate the lack of rules he forces on his neighbors? Watch this video to see the conflict in action.
Consider the 'evolving' opinions of Mr. Bukont:
August 16, 2004:
"Board chairman Steve Bukont said town officials should clarify building design and size rules for the district, or possibly face property-rights suits in court. "A right regulated is a right denied," he said. "We'd better have our ducks in a row [for lawsuits]."
October 19, 2005:
Steve Bukont, chairman of the Windover Heights Board of Review, got up and defended the district, saying that when he moved to Vienna 17 years ago, he was "amazed that there was this one part of town that was radically different." Bukont said much of the neighborhood is as it was 100 years ago, and he pointed out that, although residents have to go through an "additional step" to modify their houses, they also have the benefit of protection to the value of their homes.
Why the shift in Bukont in one year?
Bukont knows full well that the Windover Heights Historic District prevents "value" in many cases. Many of the homes today, viewed by any measure as teardowns, are steering clear of redevelopment to avoid going before Bukont's review board. How does that protect value? Why does Mr. Bukont's neighborhood which has no review board look better than the so-called District?
