Some more about Scott York’s luck…

In 2002, a Colorado company called ServiceStar Development, Inc., bought 12 acres of land in Ashburn that turned out to be a really good investment.  They bought the land for $1.6 million and sold part of it in 2005 for about $22 million.   But they got a lot of help along the way from a man named Scott York.  He happened to also be Chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.

There were many irregularities in how the land got developed.  It was zoned for an industrial park, but developed as a retail center, even though county staff said that a special exception was required.  Nevertheless, somehow, it was approved by staff without requiring a special exception, thus bypassing staff reports, public hearings, and a long, expensive, difficult process. 

Now how often does that happen?  ServiceStar is pretty lucky too!

The neighbors  complained that they didn’t want the strip mall and the traffic it would bring, or for that matter, a traffic light installed within 400 feet of another light at Smith Switch Road.   But it’s amazing what you can do with zoning if you know the right people … and you are also Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.  It was about that time that the contributions started coming from ServiceStar …. first, $5,000 … then another $5,000, and … another $5,000.

Even More Luck!

Then in April 2005, after Mr. York was re-elected, and ServiceStar had flipped part of their properties, Scott York was brought onto the payroll for over $100,000 a year, according to Scott.  And that’s when he started meeting directly with county staff to make sure the numerous irregularities all got “fixed”, and the favors continued.  Then, in 2007, in time to run with his slate of slow/no growth Democrats, Scott York resigned his position with the developer, ServiceStar.

Now Scott is hoping the same party he helped defeat 4 years ago will make him their nominee.   Will his lucky streak continue?