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Zoning violation becomes political
A Town of Herndon zoning violation notice became the center of a political controversy last week, when Herndon Vice Mayor Dennis Husch was publicly accused of abusing his authority.
“It appears that he may have used his office to enforce a zoning regulation regarding a fence on this citizen's property arbitrarily after they posted signs in their yard supporting other candidates,” wrote “Native Son,” on the political Web site HerndonWeb, which allows posters to use pseudonyms.
“The reason Dennis is the prime suspect in this is because of his reputation for doing things like this,” the posting continued.
The Herndon property in question is 600 Jefferson Street, a house on a corner lot owned by Valerie Winstead since 1989. The violation notice that she received April 22 states that the placement of a fence “in the side and rear yard” is in violation of the town's zoning ordinance.
“If it is Husch, he's going to start watching every single move I make, and I may not know what I am doing wrong,” Winstead said.
Since word of her situation got out, Winstead said she has received numerous e-mails and phone calls supporting her. Some supporters even came to her house and took measurements of her fence.
Husch responded to the allegation in an e-mail to town residents. “Now my political opponents are accusing me of directing the Zoning Inspection Department to investigate a potentially illegal backyard fence at the corner of Jefferson and Van Buren Streets because the residents have campaign signs in their yard for Mr. Reece and Ms. Olem. NONSENSE!,” he wrote.
The Times has since learned that Wade Burkholder, deputy director of Community Development for the Town, initiated the investigation, and says that he was not prompted by anyone to do so.
“I was actually out there looking at another complaint we had received and simply observed it as I was out there inspecting the other property,” he said.
“I am waiting patiently for an apology from the perpetrators of this politically motivated libel, but I won’t be holding my breath. This is just one more example of divisiveness from those who promised to 'bring the community together,'” Husch told The Times on Monday.
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