Castles on Sand

For the past several months, the County has wrestled with the proper way to proceed in case of Daryl Wagner. Mr. Wagner built his home on Little Dobbins Island in the Magothy River without the proper building permits. "How could such a thing happen," one might ask. How could someone build a 6,000 square foot house without the County noticing? Turns out that, according to County spokesperson, Pam Jordan, land-use officials rely on complaints from the public to nab would-be builders who don't get proper permits. Well, that's reassuring. What other responsibilities of government are being foisted off on the public because of a lack of resources or effort on the part of the County? It's a well known fact, to anyone whose paid attention, that the County is sorely lacking inspectors to keep tabs on existing construction projects. Perhaps if we were a little more generous funding our land-use inspection agencies, we'd catch these violations before they were so ridiculously out of hand.

As for Mr. Wagner's mansion, if, after the full investigation is complete, it turns out that he did flaunt the law, and bypass an array of permits, as well as the certificate of occupancy, I don't see that the County really has any other option than to raze the mansion, and send a message to other would-be lawbreakers that Anne Arundel County stands by the rule of law.