Incompetence builds better houses than dishonesty

"We are sort of talking about my honor here. . . . Call me incompetent, but don't call me a crook," Flanagan said.

This from a Clarksburg developer in response to the discovery that another development in the Upcounty town has violated a slew of zoning laws, including lots that were considerably smaller than reported. The developer, David Flanagan, proposed connecting single-family homes that were built on these lots with wooden trellises, legally making them attached houses and thus in accordance with the law.

If Flanagan was really as ignorant as he says about the zoning violations, then I think this is actually a clever solution. Regardless . . . I wouldn't be happy if I paid near to a million dollars for a glorified townhouse an hour-and-a-half from the District.