Second violation issued to Liberty Street owners

The owners of 9500 Liberty Street have been issued another zoning violation.

According to a letter from the city of Manassas dated July 11, Gaudencio Fernandez and Delia Alvarez violated a zoning ordinance that doesn’t allow a semi-public use on private property without a special use permit.

On July 7 and 8, the property was used by marchers in the People’s Walk -- an event designed to raise environmental and Native American concerns in the United States.

According to the letter, cars were parked in the grass and the property was used for assembly and overnight camping.

Fernandez obtained a special use permit application on June 30 but never filed it with the city, said Community Development Director Elizabeth Via.

In a letter dated Dec. 10, 2007, the city advised the owners not to use the property for these type of functions without first obtaining a permit. Fernandez had hosted several events on his property, including the fifth annual religious event Guadalupana in December.

A telephone message was left Monday for Fernandez, who has 30 days to appeal this violation. Failure to address this issue will “result in further legal action,” the letter states.

The city and the owners are already embroiled in a legal battle over the now infamous sign that sits at the corner of Liberty and Prince William streets. A court hearing is set for Sept. 5 to resolve building and zoning violations issued by the city.

The first violation resulted because the owners failed to apply for a permit after re-enforcing their partially demolished structure, a violation of the city building code. The owners re-enforced the structure in order to hang a more permanent political sign than the previous incarnations that were in place starting last September.

The house, which was badly damaged by fire in 2006, was partially demolished by the owners before they decided to use the remaining wall as a way to criticize Prince William County's resolution targeting illegal immigrants and the city's participation in the Immigration & Customs Enforcement 287 (g) program.
The zoning citation, the city contends, resulted from excessive litter and trash on the premises, which is against city code.

According to city manager Lawrence Hughes, the city will be seeking a judge’s order to correct the violations.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-369-5738.