The Herndon Town Council approved, 7-0, the site plan for the expansion project at the Montessori School located at Alabama Avenue at its public hearing on April 23.
While the site plan meets the regulations in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, the issue was not without discussion, as the applicant mentioned it had filed for a waiver for right of way improvements of curb and gutter along Van Buren Street.
"We offered monetary contributions toward the improvements," said D. Thomas Basham with the engineering, surveying and planning firm of Basham & Mullen in Nokesville. "The expansion does not expand enrollment," said Basham. The 5,400-square foot building is expected to grow by an additional 2,800-square feet to be used for a resource center, computer room and new library.
"We resubmitted the site plan with the complete design that includes the improvements on Van Buren," said Basham.
"There’s the question of who will pay for curb and gutter if it’s waived," said Herndon resident Steve Mitchell. "Let the person benefiting from property improvements pay for the improvements," he said.
But Town Councilman Michael O’ Reilly said, "We’re not acting on the waiver, just the site plan," adding that the waiver application is heard by the Planning Commission.
President of the school, Shaw Riddell, a Herndon resident, said the mission of the not for profit institution is "to provide a quality Montessori education at the lowest possible cost. There are scholarships available for students who can not afford it."
Following the unanimous vote, Basham said, "We’re pleased with the decision and that staff will work with us."