Mount Daniel is a Falls Church City Public School but operates at 2328 North Oak Street, a Fairfax County street. Photo by Ken Moore.
Falls Church Mayor David Tarter crossed county and McLean borders to advocate for the expansion of Mount Daniel Elementary School, a school he called “a cornerstone of our small community.”
“We take pride in our school system,” said Tarter. “This is of critical importance to our city.”
But to get to Mount Daniel requires trips on McLean streets, including North Oak, a Fairfax county street not easily navigated by school busses.
“There is simply not enough room on that street,” said Gayle Matthews, who lives on North Oak, a 26-foot-wide street.
Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) has operated Mount Daniel Elementary School on a 7.31-acre property located in a residential neighborhood at 2328 North Oak Street since 1952.
The Falls Church school system seeks an expansion that would increase the square footage of the building from 44,118 square feet to 79,491 square feet; the expansion would allow the school to enroll up to 660 students. About 436 students are enrolled now and the school is above capacity.
“Most of us can’t get comfortable with an expansion of this size,” testified David Wuehrmann, who lives on North Oak.
The McLean Citizens Association Board of Directors adopted a resolution in 2015 and this year opposing the potential expansion because it was “excessive and incompatible with the neighborhood.”
“It is a lot of intensity for this small site,” testified Mark Zetts, chair of MCA’s planning and zoning committee.
About 17 speakers testified Thursday, July 22 before the Planning Commission, both for and against.
Falls Church City Public Schools have relocated kindergarten students and hope the expansion would allow it to operate the school for its first and second graders.
“We work hard to be good neighbors,” said Justin Castillo, chair of the Falls Church City School Board.
Castillo expressed ways Mount Daniel hopes to alleviate concerns of the neighborhood, including having shuttles during nighttime events, keeping the number of nighttime events to 10 during the school year, helping plow the streets during snow storms, ensuring that all Mount Daniel parents know the impact the school has on the neighborhood, and more. The school system reduced its original plans to expand the school so it could enroll up to 792 students.
“I am here to say we are serious about making sure we abide by our promises,” Castillo said.
“We know we must comply with our conditions and we will continue to work with our neighbors,” said Mayor Tarter.
More than four dozen advocates for the expansion stayed past midnight to listen to the Commission hearing.
The Planning Commission is scheduled to make its recommendation to the Board of Supervisors with its vote on Thursday, July 29.