Searchlight on Claiborne and Broadlands

There is a searchlight scanning the heavens right now on that corner in the same spot where Atlantic Tanning was. I have the feeling this is some marketing gimmic. Again, no respect for the homeowners in this neighborhood. This is an outrage.

 

Really Homer... it's a shopping center. The spot light is certainly no more annoying that the basic increase in traffic on that side of Broadlands, especially since the Phase II restaurants have opened. But the shopping center and all of its possible "annoyances" should be no surprise to anyone. It's been part of the master site plan for years.

What I want to know is whether the spot light violated any FAA rules since most of Broadlands is within the FAA-defined "shadow" of Dulles Airport!

 

They're just tacky, plain and simple. Just because it's a shopping center doesn't mean it has to be taseteless and an eyesore (spotlight, safeway gas sign, etc...)

 

Really you people are no surprise (except Brim). How would you like 1000 candlelights in your window. Tell me where you live and I'll arrange it. This is the start of the decay of the neighborhood. First the tanning van and now light pollution. Why bother having an HOA then? I can't do what I want to my yard but yet apparently business can do whatever they want.

 

Plus, wasn't the parking lot lighting in there specificaly designed to reduce uplighting/light pollution?

 

This is a new concept for you? This falls under the premis of "duh".

 

Mearan,

if you spent as much time being an activist for the community as you do trying to enforce your faith on everyone this community would be a better place.

 

Making assumptions are you not Homer? How do you know what or what not Mearen does for the community? Don't assume that just because someone talks about their face and uses it in their opinions has nothing to do with whether or not a person is an activist for the community. If you ask me, alot of Mearens comments are made with an attempt to better the community.

 

Are you kidding me? Stop projecting your issues onto others, it's really just showing your ignorance.

 

TYPO: I mean faith not face.

 

Whatever. If Hornojo had said this and not me, none of you would be opposed. As far as I'm concerned this community is dead to me.

 

I knew it was you, Fredo.

 

The search light is completely inappropriate and really unnecessary. If it was to advertise the shopping center, it was a waste of resources ( and spits in the face of homeowners near by), the place is packed with people all the time.

Didn’t the HOA complain to Saul Center about the LED Safeway gas sign, ala Kenny Roasters? The gas sign is NOTHING compare to that search light. I can’t believe that you guys are ok with a light that is more intrusive and brighter then hell then the LED sign. If the HOA can complain about an immovable gas sign, I don’t see how they can ignore a big honkin’ search light.

 

How late was the spotlight on last night? I would be very disappointed with our HOA if they were asked and subsequently authorized the spotlight to be on after 10PM.

I would guess, however, that whoever hired the spotlight did not ask for the HOA's permission. You know the adage that "it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission?"

 

I can't believe that a searchlight is allowed this close to Dulles Airport?! I hope it was a one-time thing.

 

The HOA has no say or enforcement of any activity in the commercial areas of Broadlands. A commercial property would not need to ask/inform the HOA of their activity.
That being said, the HOA can raise concerns to members of the commercial property owners, such as the Safeway Gas LED lights. However, we have no enforcement capability.
A searchlight at a shopping center for a few days, as long as it is not shining directly at residents homes, is not something I see a need to get worked up over. If it turns into a long term issue, such as being on nightly for several weeks, then it is worth looking into.
If activities in commercial areas violate county zoning ordinances, then the HOA, or ANY citizen can file a complaint with the county.
This is what I have done regarding the huge advertising signs on the apt buildings.

 

This is a slippery slope Cliff. The HOA needs to do something about this. Why should I worry about what color my railings are when I have daylight outside my window at night? This is the same thing as the gas sign. It's ugly and it needs to stop. It's becoming a habit of this commercial center. Don't think it wont happen to you SFHs by Clydes either.

 

Well, it appears they were breaking a county Ordinance, and so was Atlantic tanning. Cliff, please have the HOA make a complaint as the HOA carries more weight with Saul and the County then I do.

480.02 PARKING FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.
(a) No person shall, for a commercial purpose, park an automobile, truck or other automotive
equipment on or alongside any road, highway or street in the County or of the State in the County.

480.06 PARKING NEAR INTERSECTIONS.
No person shall park a vehicle within twenty feet of the intersection of curb lines or, if none,
within fifteen feet of the intersection of property lines at an intersection of highways. (Ord. 97-01.
Passed 2-19-97.)

480.09 PARKING COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES.
No person shall park any commercial vehicle, except while loading or unloading, while
involved in construction work or while performing services, such as repair and/or installation of
equipment, within or along any public highway of the County where the land abutting such highway
is classified as a Residential District under the Zoning Ordinance of the County.
For purposes of this section, a "commercial vehicle" is any vehicle with a rated capacity in
excess of 1.5 tons or with more than two axles, or both.
(Ord. 97-01. Passed 2-19-97.)

480.105 PARKING PROHIBITED IN SPECIFIED PLACES.
(a) No person shall park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid a conflict with other
traffic or in compliance with the directions of a deputy sheriff or other police officer or traffic
control device, in any of the following places:
(1) On a sidewalk;
(2) In front of or in any such manner which obstructs access to or from a public or
private driveway;
(3) On a crosswalk or within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;
2002 Replacement
480.11 TRAFFIC CODE 18D
(4) Within 30 feet upon the approach of any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control
signal located at the side of a roadway;
(5) On the roadway side of any vehicle parked at the edge or the curb of a street;
(6) Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a street or highway or within a
tunnel;
(7) So as to prevent the use of curb ramps located on public property or on privately
owned property open to the public;
(8) At any place where official signs prohibit parking (Refer to Section 480.001 for
definition of "official sign");
(9) Perpendicular to any curb whether on roadway or dead end cul-de-sacs where not
marked as an official parking space (Section 46.2-889, Code of Virginia);
(10) Parking on the left edge of the roadway facing traffic;
(11) Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the street opposite
the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of the entrance when properly sign
posted.
I guess the people who made these laws were grouches too.

 

Homer, maybe you should have called the police instead of coming to the HOA?