GOCA Update Apr 27, 2025

Dear Oakton Neighbors and Friends,

We hope the Spring temperatures and flowers are finally here to stay!  And along with those signs of the season, events such as Pony Rides in the Park, Open Houses at seven local historic schoolhouses and the reopening of the farmers’ market at Oakmont Rec Center will get us outside again. For news on all of this, and an update on the AT&T development, pedestrian safety improvements, new signs, the upcoming library book sale, and more, please read on!  

Community News

• Update on AT&T Site Development

• Pedestrian Improvements on Hunter Mill Road

• New Oakton Signs

• Help Keep Our Parks Clean

GOCA News

• Spaces Still Available for Pony Rides on May 3

• Open Houses at Local Historic Schoolhouses on May 3

• Announcing Date for This Year’s Oakton Day in the Park!

• Seeking Volunteers To Help With Historic Oakton Schoolhouse

Other Items

• Friends of Oakton Library Spring Book Sale

• Vale Club Car Show

• Farmers Market at Oakmont Rec Center Reopens on May 7th

• Help with Light Pollution

• Invasive Plant Removal

Community News

Update on AT&T Site Development. Last month the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved changes to the Comprehensive Plan which included the modifications to the language originally proposed by the Planning staff and the developer, EYA, reducing proposed residential density from 1.0 floor area ratio (FAR) to .88 FAR and connecting Borge Street Park to additional common green space across the site. Given community concern about the traffic impacts of this new development along those emanating from the already approved developments across Chain Bridge, Supervisor Palchik made a motion, accepted by the Board, for the County to fund a traffic study for a corridor extending a mile from the site. 

The next step in the process is EYA’s revision of its rezoning application, through which details of the development and proffers will be worked out. Providence Planning Commissioner Jeremy Hancock and Supervisor Palchik are convening an advisory group composed of representatives of local groups, including GOCA, to help shape the outcome. GOCA welcomes your input at any time by emailing us, and we encourage you to stay up to date on the process by regularly visiting the Options for Oakton/Smart Growth for Oakton Facebook page or the Options for Oakton website.

Pedestrian Improvements on Hunter Mill Road. If you have driven up Hunter Mill recently, you might have noticed new zebra striping near the Library at the intersection of Hunter Mill and Lynnhaven Roads.  Additionally, near the intersection of 123 and Hunter Mill you may have seen a new ADA-compliant curb ramp in front of the Truist bank, ADA-compliant push buttons for pedestrian-activated signals (the new buttons ‘talk’ to you and make a noise when the walk signal is active), and a widening of the crosswalk across Hunter Mill Road. Some of this was done under VDOT’s Systemic Highway Safety Improvements Program, which is intended to improve highway safety on public roads in Virginia.  Thank you to Chris French of Fairfax Families for Safe Streets for continuing to advocate for these and other initiatives to enhance safety for roadways all over Oakton and around Fairfax County.  

New Oakton Signs. As those of you on Facebook may have seen, Oakton is now fully back on the map for travelers along I-66.  After having reinstalled signs on I-66 indicating that Oakton was at Exit 60 last year, VDOT has now put back signs to alert drivers which way to turn when they make it up the ramp onto Chain Bridge Road.   Thank you again to Supervisor Palchik’s office for engaging with VDOT on our behalf.

Help Keep Our Parks Clean. GOCA has become aware of concerns by the increasing numbers of visitors to Oakton’s parks that some dog owners are not cleaning up after their pets. This is unappealing and also unsanitary to those strolling the trails.  We also have our intrepid invasive plant volunteers who encounter unwelcome surprises back in the woods beyond the trails.  We love dogs too, but please clean up after your pets!  

GOCA News

Spaces Still Available for Pony Rides on May 3. A reminder that on May 3rd, GOCA will again host Pony Rides in the Park, thanks to a generous contribution from GOCA Board Member Linda Byrne.  Cost is $10 per rider. Please register online here in advance.

Open Houses at Local Historic Schoolhouses on May 3. The same day, Saturday, May 3rd, seven local historic schoolhouses–including the Oakton Schoolhouse and the Vale Schoolhouse–will open their doors to visitors from 10 am - 2 pm. Each schoolhouse is a member of the Historical School Houses of Northern Virginia (HSNVA), of which GOCA was an original founder, and will have activities for adults and kids alike.  You can find the location of the participating HSNVA schoolhouses here.  

Announcing Date for This Year’s Oakton Day in the Park!  Mark your calendars for the 5th annual Oakton Day in the Park, which this year will be Sunday, August 24th, from 1 - 4 pm.  As in previous years, this special day will feature food, games, and entertainment for all ages.   Also, we are calling all Oakton-based non-profits – if you would like to have a table at Oakton Day, please contact us here!

Seeking Volunteers To Help With Historic Oakton Schoolhouse. Now that we have the keys to the schoolhouse, GOCA is hard at work developing policies and procedures for making the building available for public uses. We are hoping to expand our programming in this wonderful venue. We are also deepening our research into the history of its service in the community, in hopes of creating polished displays and helping it become a resource for teachers and local schools.  Please reach out to us with your interest.

Other Items

Friends of Oakton Library Spring Book Sale. April 30th - May 3rd; for more information, please visit Friends of Oakton Library. For other upcoming activities and events at the Oakton Library, please click here.  

Vale Club Car Show. Saturday, May 3rd (rescheduled from April 12th) from 9am to 1pm, at the corner of Fox Mill and Vale Roads.  This is a fundraiser for the Vale Schoolhouse to help rebuild its storage shed, which was destroyed by a weather event and to help with ongoing preservation and maintenance. BBQ and desserts will be available for purchase and a raffle will be held. Please park at the Vale Methodist Church opposite the Vale Schoolhouse.

Farmers Market at Oakmont Rec Center Reopens on May 7th. Every Wednesday through October 29th, you can visit the farmers market to shop at a large variety of vendors.   Another benefit is that you can drop off your composting before you shop.  Please go here to learn more.

Help with Light Pollution. Learn about the County (and nationwide) initiative to reduce the light pollution that harms the natural world. Sky-friendly lighting can also help you sleep better, save energy and protect plant and animal life.  Discover more here.

Invasive Plant Removal:

• Difficult Run Stream Valley Park.  Saturday, May 4th, 10 am - 12 pm.   If interested in helping,  please register here 

• Oakton Community Park. Saturday, May 10th, 9 - 11 am and 1 – 3 pm. If interested in helping, please contact Karin Lehnigk.

With best regards,

The GOCA Board

Lauren Crum and Shelley Deutch, Co-ChairsLinda Byrne, Jackie Davey, Mark Deaton, Janet Kerr-Tener (Founding Co-Chair), Kris Olsen, Robin Thurman, Gary Wong and Albert Wu

 See our website at: www.greateroakton.com

GOCA is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, and 100% of your donations go to our community efforts.  To donate, please visit our Paypal link.  If you would like to become more actively involved, email us at contact@greateroakton.com and we can match you with the right opportunity.