foxnews.com
"...Thoburn says that he has already spent $125,000 on 700 trees mandated by the zoning board. But the board is demanding that 30 trees be moved alongside property boundary between the range the nearest homeowner's land to create a protective screen. In an interesting twist, however, that neighbor is John Thoburn's father, Bob, who says the landscape requirement is ridiculous.
"They want ... my children to screen their own property from their own property. We own all the property across the street, too, every bit of it. So, it doesn't make any sense," Bob Thoburn said.
In an escalation of the battle, the zoning board has also targeted a man-made hill behind the range for regulation. The board says the hill is the wrong height. But according to John Thoburn, the board refuses to tell him what height it wants.
The county earlier took issue with cups being provided along with soft drinks at the range, so the board banned cups at the range. Only cans are now allowed.
The board has also regulated the use of lights at Thoburn's range, as well as the inclusion of miniature golf and putting greens. All told, the county has imposed 25 conditions on Thoburn over nine years.
But it's a different story a few miles away at the Oakmar range, which was built and is run by Fairfax County. Unlike Thoburn's range, there have been no requirements to add trees, no restrictions on lights and no prohibitions against miniature golf or putting greens. And in the clubhouse, cups are provided for soft drinks or coffee.
The county insists there is no double standard ..." |
