North Stafford, Va. – Two studies conducted after a landslide forced residents from their homes in North Stafford late last summer both show problems dating back to before the homes were built, residents said.
Dan O’Leary, owner of a home on Brush Everard Court in Stafford’s Austin Ridge development, this fall ordered the independent studies on the land behind his home, which has been prone to landslides twice before.
“Both engineering studies were conducted independent of one another, yet both seem to conclude the same causality regarding the failed land” said O’Learyin an email statement. “Both reports indicate that there is and always has been issues related to the stability of the slope behind the homes.”
While county staff stepped in to meet with the O’Leary’s and others affected by the landslide, the developer of the property refused to meet with the homeowners.
“What we are learning now is that these two home sites were developed on parcels that had potential slope stability issues even before construction on the homes ever began,” said O’Leary in an email.
O’Leary said in the 10 years time the slope has been an issue at the property, he said county officials have done little in the way of oversight of the property during its initial development.
In October, Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Stafford, Prince William, Westmoreland) met with the homeowners to discuss possible financial assistance for the family.
Their home condemned, the O’Leary’s moved to Fredericksburg to live in temporary housing.
Ebeneezer Chrurch in Stafford continues to take donations to cover the costs of the land studies at staffordhelp.com.
