Well, the part of the zoning initiative that called for proactive enforcement was cut out of the Zoning initiative. This pretty much turns the effort into a zoning study. This is somewhat less useful than I had hoped for but I am not going to pout or hold a grudge.
I feel strongly about enforcement and I won’t give up but, for now, the majority (4-3 w/ mayor breaking tie) of the council disagrees. Yeah, I’m mad about it but I respect their right to disagree and that’s the way it goes on City Council sometimes. You can’t hold a grudge or pout as the people are not best served by such attitudes – there’s plenty of other things that need attention. For my part, I can’t get past feeling as though what we are currently doing isn’t working and I’m going to keep at it.
It will be further discussed at the land use meeting Thursday night.
Update: BVBL has a good write up here.
February 26, 2007 at 11:43 pm
I can’t believe the ineffectiveness of the leadership. Weren’t we simply going to enforce the laws that are already on the books? Unbelievable.
Must not have issues around those councilmen’s homes. Who voted against it?
February 27, 2007 at 9:24 am
“You can’t hold a grudge or pout as the people are not best served by such attitudes – there’s plenty of other things that need attention.”
Maybe you can’t, but I can. I cannot believe that they removed the proactive enforcement part. The city leadership is scared, either of another lawsuit, or of pushback from the various city departments. That is the only conclusion that I can come to.
How did each vote?
February 27, 2007 at 9:49 am
WTH are these people thinking…HAVE THEY NOT DRIVEN DOWN 234 S near GTS…it is the entrance to Old Town from the South on a major Highway…YE HA…yea man…THAT makes someone want to move to Manassas! Not to mention the WONDERFUL picture you have on your site coming from the North on 28 and then take a right onto Sudley Rd and see another UGLY corner that marks a BEAUTIFUL entrance into the heart of Manassas…NO WONDER HOUSES AREN’T SELLING…
“Delores”, Fred says…”close your eyes as I take you to your beautiful new home.” …”now don’t peak”. Delores (being the woman that she is) peaks as they drive to her new home…She screams in horror. Fred, shocked by her high pitched scream, runs a red light and has his picture taken!
WELCOME TO MANASSAS – Se Habla Espinol? Bienvenido a Manassas
February 27, 2007 at 10:02 am
OK Andy, we may have lost the first battle but this is a long war
and the issue won’t go away – you are right -“What we are doing
isn’t working”. Know how hard you are working on this so I applaud
you for not holding a grudge or pouting after last night.
The objections, as I understand them:
1) Might mean an increase in staffing (But ANY change in staffing would
have to come back to council for approval.)
2) Proactive might have unintended results (no NEW laws – simply
enforcement of the ones we have on the books).
Hopefully, council will regroup and pass this in the near future.
February 27, 2007 at 10:16 am
Harrover made the motion that was seconded by Randolph.
Way then made a subsitute motion seconded by Parrish. (The
subsitute would provide a watered down version on the
Harrover motion).
The vote on the SUBSITUTE motion was:
No – Harrover, Aveni, Randolph
Yes – Way, Parrish, Smith
Yes – Mayor Waldron (breaking the tie)
February 27, 2007 at 11:16 am
“OK Andy, we may have lost the first battle but this is a long war
and the issue won’t go away”
I am with you on this one.
February 27, 2007 at 2:56 pm
What is it going to take for the Manassas city council to get it right? First they cave on the Howard Daniel special use permit. Then they vote down the zoning initiative. I guess the next wrong action will be to allow Chief Skinner to sweep the Tony’s Pizza incident under the rug.
Three strikes and the citizens of Manassas are OUT!
February 27, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Keep sluggin’ Andy
It’s the good fight… know that many of the citizens understand you’re leading in the direction we want to go and will support. Even if the Council ‘majority’ perfers to simply read about the blight/issues found within our city rather than take appropriate action. Inexcusable and noted! They’ve far too little trust left to waste before the 2008 election.
Blight – Something that impairs growth, withers hopes and ambitions, or impedes progress and prosperity.
February 27, 2007 at 8:43 pm
While I believe there are properties that need some serious enforcement, I applaud the council members who are wise enough to remember what happens when you jump into something without first researching the consequences. And for those of you who say the council backed off with the new family definition and the Daniel special use permit to soon and they should have kept on fighting, that is all well and good, but when the City gets hammered with a multi-million dollar fine from the federal govt and we all have to pay for it, you will be bi..ching about that. Lets trust that the people we elected are getting sound advice and have learned from past mistakes and are just trying to do what is best for the City as a whole. Personally, I do not think think the city is in that bad of an overall condition, just my opinion.
February 27, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Citizen:
I agree that the council needs to be careful but as far as the shape the city is in, you need to get out more. While I’m at it, tell me what’s wrong with enforcing laws that have been on the books for decades?
February 27, 2007 at 9:40 pm
If you call, I am sure all the laws are enforced. I do get out and I firmly believe our city is in a very good condition compared to other localities. Sometimes government can’t take care of every problem. Sometimes people have to pull their own boot straps up and help themselves. It sounds as if you all believe the employees do nothing. My wife is an employee and I know many of them and I know they all work hard for far less money then most of them could earn in the private sector. When they are needed in an emergency they are ready to go to work in all types of emergencies. Maybe you all should give them a break and maybe you should get out to other jurisictions and I believe you will see the City isn’t as bad as you all make it out to be. If you aren’t happy, there are plenty of other places you can move, the housing market is down everywhere, not just here.
February 27, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Nice try Andy. Keep up the good work. I think I would have voted with you on this one.
Just remember though everyone, Hal, Steve S., Jonathon, and the Mayor also have great concerns over some of the growing problems our city faces. In fact, I dont think they even disagree with Andy, Marc, and Steve R. They just want to take the process through a little slower. Andy, just keep the issue alive and dont give up. Everyone on that council may have some very good input on how to make your idea work even better over the long run.
February 27, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Citizen:
I’ve no doubt that the city employees work hard. I’ve met many (not all) of them and I’ve been impressed with their dedication. In fact, my confidence in the staff is one of the reasons that I’m comfortable going to proactive enforcement.
However, I would disagree that our City is in good condition. I think it is in ok condition but I’m worried that it won’t get better and will decline. Therefore, I believe that now is the time to start proactive enforcement.
February 27, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Thanks Jackson, I appreciate the support and I’m not giving up. It is my hope that I can convince my fellow council members that now is the time. I understand that there may be concerns on the other side. I respect their right to disagree with me and I hope we can work together to get it done.
February 28, 2007 at 11:36 am
“Let the town authorities cast a vigilant eye upon the byways and hedges
and see to it that the ordinances within the sacred precints of their
jurisdiction be enforced … Every good citizen will bow with humble
submission to the town ordinances and for such as are not included
in that class, let the iron hand of compulsion through proper legal
process be laid”
MANASSAS JOURNAL
(May 5, 1911)
March 1, 2007 at 11:06 am
Thanks Andy for your efforts on this. Way has turned out to be a major dissappointment. He seems to want to see built a lot of high end projects in the City. The City will not see the projects built if it is unwilling to enforce current law. Those who voted to water down your proposal certainly voted against the enforcement of current law.
March 1, 2007 at 11:15 am
Thanks SL. There is a land-use meeting tonight and I am hopeful that we can reach an accord on the enforcement provisions during the course of the meeting. This should allow it (as I understand how things work) to be on the agenda for the next council meting.
March 2, 2007 at 12:02 pm
The Statistician said “What is it going to take for the Manassas City Council to get it right?” One step in the ‘right direction’ that 3 City Council members took was in the Land-Use Committee meeting held March 1, where Steve Randolph, Andy Harrover and Jonathan Way led the ‘right direction’ by supporting with vote for proactive zoning enforcement. This encourages those of us who have rallied around Andy Harrover’s Zoning Resolution with his principled and commonsense approach to leadership. The next step is a citizens proactive step by planning to attend the next City Council meeting, March 12, 2007, prepared to speak in support of the action taken by the 3 councilmen. Let’s pack city hall!
March 9, 2007 at 9:44 am
Watchdog got it right. I for one was never opposed to Andy’s resolution, even though I moved to send it back to the Land Use Committee. The reason was that it needed some clarification as to just what we mean by proactive enforcement. We worked out that clarification and now the measure is going back to council where it will certainly be adopted. Don’t get too hasty with your slings and arrows, guys and gals. Occasionally it is useful for your council to think through what they are passing before they pass it.
March 10, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Andy,
Do we know who owns those dreadful properties across from the GTS entrance on 234? Also all of the “Used Tire” shops don’t give Manassas such a good look.