One of the challenges that any organization faces is changing with the times.  As the face of Manassas has changed over the years, the Government has been forced to adapt to changing climes.  As development rounds out and changes from single family house to higher density in a couple of areas, the things that the government must do to maintain the status quo changes.  This has been a challenge that our staff has been tussling with of late.

About 4 years ago, the initial change was to simply add more inspection staff.  Some folks didn’t like the increased number of inspections but we want a neat, orderly city and more enforcement became necessary.  Lately, we’ve changed our ordinances to take advantage in changes in state law that give us a little more leeway in dealing with zoning and building violations.  Proffer enforcement has become a hot spot as of late.  Citizens that are near shopping malls and other developments that have proffers are protected by those proffers.  The challenge is that there is a natural tension between the commercial interests of the land owners and nearby residents.  We (the city) want to help backstop those proffers for the citizens and ensure that bad things don’t happen.  We also want our commercial interests to thrive.  After all, in modern NoVa, your community is identified by two things: your schools and your retail.  A thriving commercial sector helps both.

In order to update the public on what we are doing and what changes have been made to our enforcement processes, the Land Use committee has asked the staff to present an update on our enforcement at a Council meeting.  This will take place on the 21st.  I’ll post more info on the time, etc, as I get it.  I encourage people to watch and/or attend.