The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) ruled yesterday that Iraq War Veteran Marc Grapin of Falls Church can keep the tree house he built for his two sons in the front yard of his area home. Grapin and a dozen supporters presented a petition signed by more than 1,500 people in support of the tree house, which he built for his sons to fulfill a promise he made before he was deployed. The zoning board voted 5-0 to approve a variance allowing the tree house to stay, at least for five years or until he moves.

Grapin spent $1,400 and six weeks building the tree house, but someone registered an anonymous complaint in October, and he was ordered by Fairfax County officials to take it down, pending appeal.