The Vienna Town Council authorized the purchase of a small plot of land behind Vienna Elementary School at its meeting Monday night.

The Town will pay $33,000 for the 9,322 square-foot-property -- located near the back of the school, the Community Center and the W+OD Trail -- in equal installments during the next three years.

Though the given address is 309 Maple Ave E., the property does not front that road. The public would access the property from the paper street of Locust Street S.E., said Greg Hembree, Director of Planning and Zoning.

The town has considered buying the land since 2007, Town Attorney Steve Briglia said. It has long been owned in trust by the Berry family, he said. Fairfax County tax maps show that the land was purchased in 1977, and again in 1981. It was valued this year at $27,970, according to Fairfax County Tax data.It was valued at $18,645 in 2000.

There are currently no plans for the land's use, Public Information Officer Kirstyn Barr said.