Look at this marvy picture of Charlie's HUGE campaign banner! Wow, that is one BIG SIGN! Even though this sign represents a huge investment from Charlie's campaign coffers, that is NOT the story here.
The story is the sign's location. Here is a clue.
Still mystified? Here is a SLIGHTLY different angle.
Yep, this MAGNIFICENT sign is posted at one of the premier sites of Providence Development shame. THE GOAT FARM! (Ok, so the diary title gave it away...)
Once upon a time in the not-so-distant rural history of Providence, the Goat Farm was - well, a goat farm. Developers salivated about clear-cutting it and filling it with huge houses. Neighbors fought back and successfully reduced the density (somewhat) and secured important tree-save proffers and a buffer to the W&OD Trail.
THEN, the bulldozers arrived. What do you think is happening in this picture? Yep, the bulldozer is crossing the tree-save boundary to, well, push down the huge old tree....
Even though the developers had secured added density in exchange for their tree-save proffers, the violation of those proffers did not reverse the density concessions. The density went in as planned, with some small new trees put in. So now it looks like this.
Embarrassed, County Supervisors enacted new penalty regulations to try to better enforce such proffers, but monetary fees have very limited deterrence value when measured against the profit to be accrued from extra density. So why is it that when developers break their promises the citizens still have to be saddled with the concessions they gave in exchange? We never got a straight answer to that question from Linda Smyth. One more reason she should go.
Straight up: Linda lies about what Charlie is AND she lies about what she is. She is a complete disgrace who has no business in a position of leadership for our county.
Get out the vote for Charlie TODAY. Remind your friends and neighbors in Providence to go vote for real progress - vote for Hall.
It should be noted that this developer gave Connolly a couple of thousand dollars in campaign contributions not long before he approved this rezoning. The guy probably figured that he paid his money so he should have his way.
The Goat Farm was a beautiful property full of mature native trees (although it didn't have the plethora of truly stunning heritage trees as the soon-to-be decimated Wedderburn property). It was a major asset to the environment. And the rezoning was a "cluster" development, meaning that the developer was allowed smaller lot sizes in exchange for saving more trees.
The rezoning granted to the developer should have been rescinded. And Connolly should have used some of his prodigious storehouse of venom to chastise this developer and set an example for others that this type of behavior won't be tolerated in Fairfax County.
But alas, the developer had given Connolly money and Gerry seems to save his venom for intimidating citizens, so it was not to be.