ANC 3B Minutes for June 23, 2014

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ANC: 3B

Meeting Date: June 23, 2014

Uploaded on: Aug. 17, 2014

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GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3B
GLOVER PARK AND CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS
 
 
 
 
     ANC3B  Minutes  
                                                                                                               June  23,  2014  Special  Public  Meeting  
 
This  special  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  7:00  PM  by  Chairman  Brian  Cohen.  Commissioner  
Blumenthal,  Commissioner  Fiorillo  and  Commissioner  Young  were  also  in  attendance.  
 
 Chairman  Cohen  stated  that  the  only  agenda  item  would  be  the  discussion  of  the  zoning  exception  
request  for  development  of  new  condominium  projects  at  3915  and  3919  Fulton  Street,  NW  
Washington  DC.      
 
At  the  regularly  scheduled  ANC3B  Public  meeting  held  on  June  12,  2014,  ANC3B  took  no  position  on  
the  zoning  exception  request.    ANC3B  did  recommend  that  the  developer  and  neighbors  meet  to  
discuss  their  concerns  about  this  project,  and  scheduled  this  Special  Meeting  to  allow  both  parties  to  
reach  a  compromise  before  the  ANC  voted  on  the  issue.  
 
Mr.  Martin  Sullivan,  attorney  representing  the  developer  Mr.  Guy  Prudhomme,  began  by  stating  that  
the  developer  had  met  with  members  of  the  neighborhood  and  responded  to  some  of  the  neighbors  
concerns  about  the  projects.    Mr.  Sullivan  stated  the  buildings  were  always  intended  to  be  condos  
and  the  interior  design  was  conceived  so  as  not  to  lend  itself  to  renters,  a  concern  of  many  
neighbors.    He  further  stated  that  Mr.  Prudhomme  reduced  the  number  of  bedrooms  per  unit  to  2  
rather  than  3,  provided  a  landscaping  plan,  provided  a  traffic  study,    agreed  to  plant  larger  trees  vice  
saplings  after  construction  is  complete  and  provided  proof  of  funding  to  complete  the  projects.    He  
also  added  that  the  architect  had  made  minor  changes  in  the  exterior  design  of  the  building  
especially  to  the  cornices.    
 
Mr.  George  Brenkert,  acting  as  a  spokesman  for  the  neighbors,  acknowledged  that  the  neighbors  had  
met  with  the  developer  and  his  attorney.    Mr.  Brenkert  indicated  that  some  of  their  concerns  were  
answered  by  the  developer  and  that  the  developer  with  his  attorney  had  responded  to  an  eight  page  
questionnaire  in  regards  to  the  development  of  the  two  Fulton  Street  properties.    Mr.  Brenkert  then  
displayed  a  panoramic  photo  presentation  of  the  existing  Fulton  Street  homes  and  super-­‐imposed  
over  the  existing  properties  the  proposed  exterior  design  of  the  condos.    He  then  asked  all  if  the  
proposed  design  for  the  new  condos  “fits  in”  with  the  existing  design  of  homes  on  that  block.  
 
Many  neighbors  responded  with  questions  about  the  brick  like  material  (fiber  cement)  that  was  
projected  to  be  used  in  place  of  brick  for  exterior  construction,    the  noise  that  might  be  transmitted  
from  the  proposed  roof  top  decks,  function  and  power  of  the  condo  association  if  built  as  condos,  
protocol  by  the  condo  association  to  allow  renters,  the  modern  vs.  traditional  architecture  being  
employed  by  the  proposed  condos,  who  will  levy  and  be  responsible  for  the  collection  of  condo  fees,  
tree  size  in  regards  to  the  landscaping  plan,  if  there  was  a  legal/binding  document  to  sell  the  units  
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
P.O. BOX 32312 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20007 PHONE: (202) 338-2969 EMAIL: [email protected]
 
3B01 3B02 3B03 3B04 3B05
N. GLOVER PARK E. GLOVER PARK W. GLOVER PARK CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS S. GLOVER PARK
JOE FIORILLO JACKIE BLUMENTHAL VACANT MARY C. YOUNG BRIAN A. COHEN
once  they  are  built  as  condos,  construction  start  times  in  the  morning  and  the  large  glass  windows  
that  many  considered  to  give  the  building  an  office  park  atmosphere.    The  main  theme  that  most  
neighbors  presented  was  that  the  exterior  design  just  didn’t  fit  in  with  the  existing  architecture  of  the  
Fulton  Street  neighborhood.    
 
Mr.  Prudhomme,  property  developer,  after  hearing  the  neighbors  response  to  development  of  the  
Fulton  Street  properties  stated  that  he  would  commit  to  the  following  items    (1)  the  buildings  will  be  
divided  into  condominiums  and  not  as  apartment  buildings  designed  for  rental,  (2)  each  unit  will  
contain  only  2  bedrooms    (3)  trees  to  be  replaced  on  the  sites  will  be  at  least  10-­‐12  feet  high  and  (5)  
proof  of  funds  will  be  provided  to  the  ANC  before  construction  begins  and  after  permits  have  been  
issued.      
 
Chairman  Cohen  asked  Mr.  Prudhomme  if,  as  a  show  of  good  faith,  he  would  commit  to  developing  a  
condominium  association  agreement  containing  a  rule  that  requires  approval  by  50%  of  the  owners  
before  a  unit  can  be  rented.    Mr.  Prudhomme  and  Mr.  Sullivan  indicated  that  they  would,  if  they  
received  ANC  approval,  add  such  a  provision.  
 
Chairman  Brian  Cohen  asked  each  ANC  commissioner  about  their  opinion  of  the  development  of  the  
Fulton  Street  properties.      Chairman  Cohen  also  reminded  all  that  Mr.  Prudhomme  does  have  the  by  
right  authority,  which  requires  no  ANC  action  or  allows  any  neighborhood  action  to  keep  the  existing  
brick  facades  at  each  site  and  build  8  units  on  each  site.      
 
A  motion  was  made  by  Commissioner  Cohen  and  was  seconded  to  support  a  Zoning  Exception  for  
Development  of  New  Condominium  Projects  at  3915  and  3919  Fulton  Street.    ANC3B  deadlocked  by  
a  2-­‐2  vote  on  this  issue.  Commissioners  Cohen  and  Fiorillo  voted  aye;  Commissioners  Blumenthal  and  
Young  voted  nay.    
 
A  motion  was  made  by  Commissioner  Cohen  to  oppose  the  Zoning  Exception.  The  motion  was  not  
seconded  and  thus  was  not  voted  on.  
 
There  was  no  additional  business  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  at  8:14  PM.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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