Fairfax County leaders have approved plans for a private school in a residential Vienna pocket, after months of contention that it would clog streets and encourage developers to swoop in on the area.
Supervisors unanimously approved the all-girls’, Catholic Oakcrest School’s bid to build a 134,500-square-foot facility near the intersection of Hunter Mill Road and the Dulles Toll Road.
The area is zoned for low-density, residential use, which united some homeowners and civic groups against the proposal from the outset.
The county’s planning staff recommended rejecting the application. But the planning commission and Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the project.
“In my opinion, this application should rise or fall on its own merit,” said Supervisor John Foust, D-Dranesville, whose district includes the future school site. “In my mind, nothing about approval of this application should give encouragement to anyone that the comprehensive plan or zoning for property in the vicinity of this application will change.”
Foust signed off on the plan when Oakcrest agreed to build a traffic circle, rather than install a stoplight, and limit the access to the property to Hunter Mill Road — demands made by area residents.
Fever-pitch criticism was led by the Hunter Mill Defense League, a civic association that said the school would compromise the historic makeup of the 7.2-mile road. But objection has tapered recently, showcased at the approval meeting, in which supporters far outnumbered critics.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would [support Oakcrest],” said league executive board member Jody Bennett, explaining the concessions made the project easier to swallow.
Still, she said, Oakcrest should use buses, instead of relying on carpooling as officials plan to implement.
Located in McLean since 2000, Oakcrest would evolve into a handful of multistory buildings, tennis courts and athletic fields on 23 acres, part of a push to increase enrollment from 175 to 450 students.
