Contingency Plans in FCCPS for Mt. Daniel?

[Anonymous]

Apparently community groups in Fairfax County are uniting in opposition to a proposal by FCCPS to expand Mt. Daniel ES, which is located in Fairfax County, not Falls Church City. They are worried about the impact on traffic and the limited street parking available in the immediate neighborhood.

Does FCCPS have a contingency plan if the request is rejected by the county? Can FCCPS build a new school in FCC instead? It seems unfortunate to end up dependent on decisions made by political bodies over which FCC residents have no influence or control.

[Anonymous]

Aren't they starting as soon as school lets out? Why would the question of permitting come up at this late stage?

http://www.fccps.org/facilities/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=95&Itemid=262

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren't they starting as soon as school lets out? Why would the question of permitting come up at this late stage?

http://www.fccps.org/facilities/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=95&Itemid=262

It hasn't been approved yet and there will be a public hearing on June 24th before any vote is taken. Did FCCPS get ahead of itself in assuming this would sail through?

[Anonymous]

The expansion should be denied. It's already a congested area with narrow streets and, quite frankly, FCCPS takes over the area around the school for special events with very little consideration of area residents. FCC needs to build vertically within the city limits, not further disrupt a residential county neighborhood. The city wanted more residents to expand the tax base, and now wants the county to shoulder the consequences of its poor planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't they starting as soon as school lets out? Why would the question of permitting come up at this late stage?

http://www.fccps.org/facilities/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=95&Itemid=262

It hasn't been approved yet and there will be a public hearing on June 24th before any vote is taken. Did FCCPS get ahead of itself in assuming this would sail through?

Whoa, it sounds like they did.

[Anonymous]

I can't say I blame them. The school isn't in FCC. It is a congested area. No wonder county residents aren't thrilled at the idea of making it worse for the benefit of people who live outside the county. If FCC residents are upset about it, they should be mad at FCCPS for not getting the proper permits ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

The expansion should be denied. It's already a congested area with narrow streets and, quite frankly, FCCPS takes over the area around the school for special events with very little consideration of area residents. FCC needs to build vertically within the city limits, not further disrupt a residential county neighborhood. The city wanted more residents to expand the tax base, and now wants the county to shoulder the consequences of its poor planning.

You do realize the school was there WAY before any of our houses. They've been a pretty good neighbor especially considering what might end up there if the school left. And they've been meeting with us on Oak Street since last year. As for special events, they don't let parents park there right now. They have a police officer at the bottom of the hill to allow only those of us who live here in. As for Wayne and I, we have no problem with the traffic. The buses come after we go to work and before we get home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The expansion should be denied. It's already a congested area with narrow streets and, quite frankly, FCCPS takes over the area around the school for special events with very little consideration of area residents. FCC needs to build vertically within the city limits, not further disrupt a residential county neighborhood. The city wanted more residents to expand the tax base, and now wants the county to shoulder the consequences of its poor planning.

You do realize the school was there WAY before any of our houses. They've been a pretty good neighbor especially considering what might end up there if the school left. And they've been meeting with us on Oak Street since last year. As for special events, they don't let parents park there right now. They have a police officer at the bottom of the hill to allow only those of us who live here in. As for Wayne and I, we have no problem with the traffic. The buses come after we go to work and before we get home.

Nice try, scrambling FCC official.

There's only one way in and out of the school on Oak Street, so it's already very congested. A survey of the local civic association found that over 75% of the neighborhood residents either oppose the expansion or have serious reservations. FCC has known for years that there would be significant community opposition to Mt. Daniel's expansion, but they went ahead and budgeted for it. They've claimed that they are open other ideas like retrofitting an older building in FCC, but really just assumed they could cut a back-door deal with Fairfax County zoning officials. Fortunately, the residents have demanded a public hearing and a transparent decision-making process.

There's no benefit to local county residents from allowing FCC to add another 66,000 square feet at that site and move another grade to Mt. Daniel. Having additional houses and taxpaying residents on the site would be much better than busing in hundreds of children daily from another jurisdiction. FCCPS officials have been arrogant and sneaky. Time to shut this down and for FCC to wake up and find a new facility for these kids within FCC, not Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The expansion should be denied. It's already a congested area with narrow streets and, quite frankly, FCCPS takes over the area around the school for special events with very little consideration of area residents. FCC needs to build vertically within the city limits, not further disrupt a residential county neighborhood. The city wanted more residents to expand the tax base, and now wants the county to shoulder the consequences of its poor planning.

You do realize the school was there WAY before any of our houses. They've been a pretty good neighbor especially considering what might end up there if the school left. And they've been meeting with us on Oak Street since last year. As for special events, they don't let parents park there right now. They have a police officer at the bottom of the hill to allow only those of us who live here in. As for Wayne and I, we have no problem with the traffic. The buses come after we go to work and before we get home.

Nice try, scrambling FCC official.

There's only one way in and out of the school on Oak Street, so it's already very congested. A survey of the local civic association found that over 75% of the neighborhood residents either oppose the expansion or have serious reservations. FCC has known for years that there would be significant community opposition to Mt. Daniel's expansion, but they went ahead and budgeted for it. They've claimed that they are open other ideas like retrofitting an older building in FCC, but really just assumed they could cut a back-door deal with Fairfax County zoning officials. Fortunately, the residents have demanded a public hearing and a transparent decision-making process.

There's no benefit to local county residents from allowing FCC to add another 66,000 square feet at that site and move another grade to Mt. Daniel. Having additional houses and taxpaying residents on the site would be much better than busing in hundreds of children daily from another jurisdiction. FCCPS officials have been arrogant and sneaky. Time to shut this down and for FCC to wake up and find a new facility for these kids within FCC, not Fairfax County.

You are going to lose. And I enjoy that, because you sound like a bitch.

-Not a FCC resident

[Anonymous]

What I don't understand is why FCC wants to add a grade and so greatly expand Mt. Daniel in Fairfax. Fairfax just gave over 90 acres to FCC as part of the water deal (as an aside, our water rates are going to be lowered now that we are served by the county rather than the city!). This land is right next to the middle school and high school. Why not build schools there instead of greatly expanding in a residential area? I suspect that they want to use all of that for commercial development but it seems disingenuous to state that they have no other choices as to where to expand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The expansion should be denied. It's already a congested area with narrow streets and, quite frankly, FCCPS takes over the area around the school for special events with very little consideration of area residents. FCC needs to build vertically within the city limits, not further disrupt a residential county neighborhood. The city wanted more residents to expand the tax base, and now wants the county to shoulder the consequences of its poor planning.

You do realize the school was there WAY before any of our houses. They've been a pretty good neighbor especially considering what might end up there if the school left. And they've been meeting with us on Oak Street since last year. As for special events, they don't let parents park there right now. They have a police officer at the bottom of the hill to allow only those of us who live here in. As for Wayne and I, we have no problem with the traffic. The buses come after we go to work and before we get home.

Nice try, scrambling FCC official.

There's only one way in and out of the school on Oak Street, so it's already very congested. A survey of the local civic association found that over 75% of the neighborhood residents either oppose the expansion or have serious reservations. FCC has known for years that there would be significant community opposition to Mt. Daniel's expansion, but they went ahead and budgeted for it. They've claimed that they are open other ideas like retrofitting an older building in FCC, but really just assumed they could cut a back-door deal with Fairfax County zoning officials. Fortunately, the residents have demanded a public hearing and a transparent decision-making process.

There's no benefit to local county residents from allowing FCC to add another 66,000 square feet at that site and move another grade to Mt. Daniel. Having additional houses and taxpaying residents on the site would be much better than busing in hundreds of children daily from another jurisdiction. FCCPS officials have been arrogant and sneaky. Time to shut this down and for FCC to wake up and find a new facility for these kids within FCC, not Fairfax County.

You are going to lose. And I enjoy that, because you sound like a bitch.

-Not a FCC resident

I wouldn't be so sure about that. There's a public hearing later this month, and the Board of Supervisors has already acted to extend the review period for the FCCPS application to October 2015.

The irony is that there's been discussion within FCC about what to do with Mt. Daniel for years, but little outreach to residents in the community where it's located. People are only now starting to mobilize.

Oh, and thanks for the personal insult. Right back at you, dipshit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why FCC wants to add a grade and so greatly expand Mt. Daniel in Fairfax. Fairfax just gave over 90 acres to FCC as part of the water deal (as an aside, our water rates are going to be lowered now that we are served by the county rather than the city!). This land is right next to the middle school and high school. Why not build schools there instead of greatly expanding in a residential area? I suspect that they want to use all of that for commercial development but it seems disingenuous to state that they have no other choices as to where to expand.

FCC is a small jurisdiction with overhead costs and high taxes. Expanding Mt. Daniel is less expensive than other options in FCC, and some FCC taxpayers complained about the lower costs associated with even a renovation.

To speak to a PP's comment, the planning staff in Fairfax support the FCCPS application. It's just people who live in the neighborhood who are opposed to the increased congestion, but why should their views matter if FCCPS has hired expensive "experts" to grease the wheels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why FCC wants to add a grade and so greatly expand Mt. Daniel in Fairfax. Fairfax just gave over 90 acres to FCC as part of the water deal (as an aside, our water rates are going to be lowered now that we are served by the county rather than the city!). This land is right next to the middle school and high school. Why not build schools there instead of greatly expanding in a residential area? I suspect that they want to use all of that for commercial development but it seems disingenuous to state that they have no other choices as to where to expand.

FCC is a small jurisdiction with overhead costs and high taxes. Expanding Mt. Daniel is less expensive than other options in FCC, and some FCC taxpayers complained about the lower costs associated with even a renovation.

To speak to a PP's comment, the planning staff in Fairfax support the FCCPS application. It's just people who live in the neighborhood who are opposed to the increased congestion, but why should their views matter if FCCPS has hired expensive "experts" to grease the wheels?

People in every neighborhood in America are always vehemently opposed to change. NIMBY is almost always ignored because all they care about is their own self interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The expansion should be denied. It's already a congested area with narrow streets and, quite frankly, FCCPS takes over the area around the school for special events with very little consideration of area residents. FCC needs to build vertically within the city limits, not further disrupt a residential county neighborhood. The city wanted more residents to expand the tax base, and now wants the county to shoulder the consequences of its poor planning.

You do realize the school was there WAY before any of our houses. They've been a pretty good neighbor especially considering what might end up there if the school left. And they've been meeting with us on Oak Street since last year. As for special events, they don't let parents park there right now. They have a police officer at the bottom of the hill to allow only those of us who live here in. As for Wayne and I, we have no problem with the traffic. The buses come after we go to work and before we get home.

Nice try, scrambling FCC official.

There's only one way in and out of the school on Oak Street, so it's already very congested. A survey of the local civic association found that over 75% of the neighborhood residents either oppose the expansion or have serious reservations. FCC has known for years that there would be significant community opposition to Mt. Daniel's expansion, but they went ahead and budgeted for it. They've claimed that they are open other ideas like retrofitting an older building in FCC, but really just assumed they could cut a back-door deal with Fairfax County zoning officials. Fortunately, the residents have demanded a public hearing and a transparent decision-making process.

There's no benefit to local county residents from allowing FCC to add another 66,000 square feet at that site and move another grade to Mt. Daniel. Having additional houses and taxpaying residents on the site would be much better than busing in hundreds of children daily from another jurisdiction. FCCPS officials have been arrogant and sneaky. Time to shut this down and for FCC to wake up and find a new facility for these kids within FCC, not Fairfax County.

You are going to lose. And I enjoy that, because you sound like a bitch.

-Not a FCC resident

I wouldn't be so sure about that. There's a public hearing later this month, and the Board of Supervisors has already acted to extend the review period for the FCCPS application to October 2015.

The irony is that there's been discussion within FCC about what to do with Mt. Daniel for years, but little outreach to residents in the community where it's located. People are only now starting to mobilize.

Oh, and thanks for the personal insult. Right back at you, dipshit.

LOL. "There's a public hearing!" That's cute. Best of luck hahaha

[Anonymous]

The McLean citizen's association has independently opposed the renovation.

I think the problem here is not NIMBY. It is that the changes have zero benefits to the closest neighbors because it is a different jurisdiction's schools. NIMBY usually means the thing is a public good but a nuisance for nearby neighbors.

It is just so strange to have one entity's school located in a different jurisdiction!