GOCA Update Mar 16, 2025

Dear Oakton Neighbors and Friends,

We especially wanted to provide you this update about the AT&T site redevelopment and ensure you were aware of the Board of Supervisors meeting this Tuesday to vote on the proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. We also wanted to let you know about an information session for Oakton residents by representatives of the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration this Wednesday in the newly available historic Oakton Schoolhouse! Please read on…

Community News

• Update on AT&T Site Development

• Seeking Candidate for Park Authority Board  

GOCA News

• Public Information Session With the Department of Tax Administration

• A Few Spaces Still Available for April 6th Kids’ Bird Walk  

Other Items

• Friends of Oakton Library Spring Book Sale

• Vale Club Car Show

• Invasive Plant Removal

Community News

Update on AT&T Site Development. Last week, the Fairfax County Planning Commission voted to approve proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan for the redevelopment of the AT&T property. The approved amendment included modifications to the language originally proposed by the Planning staff and developer in order to try to address public concern. Changes included reducing residential density from 1.0 floor area ratio (FAR) to .88 FAR (the current plan calls for a density of .40), connecting Borge Street park to the green common space across the site, and exploration of a traffic study for the area extending to Hunter Mill Road.

The Board of Supervisors will vote on the amendment this Tuesday, March 18th at 4pm. If you would like to speak, you can appear in public or submit a pre-taped phone or video.  Please register here and reference application SSPA 2023-II-1F.

Seeking Candidate for Park Authority Board. Providence District resident Ken Quincy has ably represented our community on the Park Authority Board since 2007. Ken is now stepping down and Providence District is looking for a resident who is interested in serving in this role, so important to our community. If you are interested, you can learn more here and if you would like to apply, please email the  Supervisor’s office here. 

GOCA News

GOCA and Park Authority Celebrate Agreement on Historic Schoolhouse. In a small ceremony last week, GOCA and the Fairfax County Park Authority signed a memorandum of agreement that will allow us to open the historic schoolhouse in Oakton Community Park ourselves for use by the community. We are happy to announce our first event being held in the schoolhouse under this new arrangement.  Please read below. 

Public Information Session with the Department of Tax Administration (DTA). Many people recently received hikes in their property tax assessments and are curious about how they were calculated. GOCA and the Miller Heights Neighborhood Association will host a presentation by representatives of the DTA on Wednesday, March 19th, from 7 to 8:30, in the historic Oakton Schoolhouse in Oakton Community Park at 2841 Hunter Mill Road. At this session, they will handle general questions and not those that are property specific.

The Oakton Schoolhouse can accommodate about 45 attendees, so though not strictly necessary, if you are interested in attending, we request that you sign up here so we can ensure sufficient space.  DTA suggests that residents review “Overview of Real Estate Assessments and the Appeal Process” for additional information prior to the event.

A Few Spaces Still Available for Kids’ Bird Walk. On Sunday, April 6th at 8:30 am at Oakton Community Park, 2841 Hunter Mill Road, expert local birdwatcher and former teacher Nick Newberry will lead a walk through the park while identifying our bird friends by sight and sound. After a walk of about an hour, we’ll enjoy breakfast treats. This event is at no cost but is limited to 15 kids, so reservations are required. There is no minimum age (you know your kids better than we do), but parents must stay onsite during the event. If you have binoculars, please bring them.  Sign up here. 

Historical School Houses across Fairfax and Loudoun Counties Open Their Doors.  Seven local historic schoolhouses–including the Oakton Schoolhouse and the Vale Schoolhouse–will open their doors to visitors on Saturday, May 3rd from 10am - 2pm. 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.  Addresses and other information will be made available on the GOCA website and Facebook page as the date draws nearer. 

Pony Rides in Oakton Community Park. Also on May 3rd, back by popular demand, we will again host pony rides for kids in the Park.  Thank you to Board Member Linda Byrne for making this available to our community.  Cost is $10 per rider and registration is limited. You can register online here.  

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, click here.  

Vale Club Car Show. Saturday, April 12th (rain date is May 3rd), 9am to 1pm, 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.

Invasive Plant Removal at Oakton Community Park. Saturday, April 12th, 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-Chairs Linda 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.