Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A
Minutes
Regular Business Meeting
Miner Elementary School
March 13, 2014
Present: Commissioners Alberti, Holmes, Mahmud, Phillips-Gilbert, Ward, Williams
Absent: Commissioners Hysell, Nauden
The meeting was convened at 7:00 pm.
1. Agenda
The following additions to the agenda were proposed: under the Alcoholic Beverage Licensing
Committee (ABL) Committee: Approve revisions to the standard Settlement Agreement; under
Transportation and Public Space Committee (TPS): Approve Todd Sloves as new Committee Co-
Chair; approve Committee 2014 Mission and Goals. Under New Business: Sahra public space
application. The agenda, as amended, was agreed to without objection.
2. Minutes
The minutes were agreed to without objection.
3. Officers’ Reports
Chair
Mr. Alberti noted that the Rock and Roll Marathon would take place on the following Sunday
(March 15, 2014).
He announced that Councilmember Vincent Orange, whose committee has jurisdiction over the
Department of Consumer and Regulation Affairs (DCRA), will hold a meeting with DCRA and the
Ward 6 ANC’s to discuss ANC concerns.
He said that at the May 2014 ANC meeting there will be a discussion of the Anacostia River tunnel
storm runoff project.
Finally, he said that the Public Charter School Board (PCSB) had announced approval for eight new
schools, but has no information on which ones might be located in ANC 6A. The PCSB did not
provide the proposed locations which is their customary practice.
Treasurer’s Report
Mr. Holmes presented the Treasurer’s Report. He reported that the opening balance in the
checking account was $14,763.34 and the savings account balance was $13,717.82. There was a
quarterly allotment from the District of $4,607.82, and an interest payment of $.21 to the savings
account. There were disbursements of $200.00 to Irene Dworakowski for the February 2014 agenda
package (Check #1632); $23.42 for travel reimbursement for Jay Williams (Check #1636); $180.00
to Roberta Weiner for transcription of the February 2014 ANC minutes (Check #1639); $30.00 for a
stop check fee for a lost check to WebHST; $15.00 for a wire transfer fee; and $169.47 for FedEx
Office for February 2014 statement (Check #1634), leaving a balance of $19,371.16 in the checking
account, and $13,718.03 in the savings account.
Motion: Mr. Holmes moved/Mr. Williams seconded a motion to accept the disbursements. The
motion passed unanimously’
Motion: Mr. Holmes moved/Mr. Alberti seconded a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as
presented. The motion passed without objection.
4. Committee Reports
Alcoholic Beverage Licensing
The report of the Committee was accepted without objection.
The Committee met without a quorum. The resolutions below come from the Committee chair.
1427 H Street NE – Halftime Sports Bar
Motion: Mr. Williams moved/Mr. Holmes seconded a motion that ANC 6A formally protest the CT
license application for the Halftime Sports Bar, 1427 H Street NE, unless a signed Settlement
Agreement is submitted to the ANC prior to the protest date. Mr. Williams is given the authority to
sign the agreement in behalf of the ANC. The motion passed 5-0-1, with Mrs. Phillips-Gilbert
abstaining.
914 H Street NE - Andy Lee Liquor
Motion: Mr. Williams moved/Mr. Mahmud seconded a motion that ANC 6A formally protest the
Class A Retailer license application for Andy Lee Liquors, 914 H Street NE, unless a signed
Settlement Agreement is submitted to the ANC prior to the protest date. The motion passed 5-0-1,
with Mrs. Phillips-Gilbert abstaining.
Modifications to Settlement Agreement
Motion: Mr. Williams moved/Mr. Mahmud seconded a motion to accept certain deletions to the
standard Settlement Agreement. The motion passed unanimously 5-0-1 with Mrs. Phillips-Gilbert
abstaining.
Ben’s Chili Bowl
Mr. Williams reported that ANC 6A had been notified that day that the Alcoholic Beverage Control
(ABC) Board had issued its decision on the ANC’s protest of Ben’s Chili Bowl’s license. The order
states that the outdoor areas (rooftop and Tenth (10th) Street sidewalk café) of this new H Street
establishment would be required to close at 11:00 pm during the week and at 12:00 am on Friday
and Saturday. He thanked Mr. Holmes and Mr. Mahmud for their exceptional efforts in
accomplishing the change.
XII
It was reported that someone was stabbed at about 2:00 am at XII on a recent Saturday morning.
The victim is okay, but the establishment was closed for 96 hours and the ABC Board will hold a
Summary Suspension hearing within the next week.
Transportation and Public Space
The report of the Committee was accepted without objection
Motion: Mr. Mahmud moved/Mr. Holmes seconded a motion to name Todd Sloves as co-chair of the
Transportation and Public Space Committee. The motion passed without objection.
Motion: The committee moved/Mr. Mahmud seconded a motion to accept the Goals of the
Committee for 2014. The motion passed without objection.
Economic Development and Zoning
The report of the Committee was accepted without objection.
819 D Street NE
Motion: The Committee moved/Mr. Alberti seconded a motion that the ANC accept its
recommendation to write a letter to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) in support of
design approval for the conversion of the church and two rowhouses at 819 D Street NE into a 30-
unit residential development (HPA 14-180), provided that the developer incorporates HPRB’s
pending comments into its design prior to its March 27, 2014 hearing.
Mr. Holmes moved that the motion be amended to list the specific points to be modified: 1) no
new window cuts are created on the Ninth (9th) Street or D Street sides of the building; 2) all
stained glass is preserved; 3) HVAC units are not visible from the street; 4) any new third levels
added onto the row houses are not visible from the street; 5) any roof deck structure or deck
furniture on either the row houses or the church building are not visible from the street; and 6)
the interior space of the church tower is not visible from the street if the existing louvers are
modified. The amendment pass passed 6-0-0. The motion as amended passed 6-0-0.
Motion: Mr. Holmes moved/Mr. Alberti seconded a motion to include himself and Mr. Dan Golden
as designated representatives of the ANC on this matter. The motion as amended passed 6-0-0.
504 12th Street NE
Motion: The Committee moved/Mr. Alberti seconded a motion that the ANC accept the
Committee’s recommendation to send a letter to the BZA in support of special exceptions from the
lot occupancy and a variance to the court width requirements for 504 12th Street NE, in connection
with a rear addition to the existing structure (BZA 18755). The motion passed unanimously, 6-0-0.
5. New Business
Anacostia River Sediment Project
Dan Smith, of the Anacostia Watershed Society, reported on a study now being undertaken by the
District Department of the Environment (DDOE) to investigate contaminants in the river sediments
and determine a clean-up plan. Certain documents — a Work Plan for the project, and a
Community Involvement Plan — have been released, and the goal of the coalition supporting the
study is now urging that a Community Advisory Group (CAG) be appointed, and that plans be
finalized by 2017.
Motion: Mr. Ward moved/Mr. Williams seconded a motion to send a letter to DDOE and the Mayor
urging the appointment of a Community Advisory Group (CAG), and that the clean-up be expedited
and be in process by 2017. The motion passed 6-0-0.
Sahra
Sahra has applied for a public space permit. They agreed to come to the Transportation and Public
Space Committee on March 16, 2014, which means that the issue will not come before the full ANC
until after the DDOT Public Space hearing on March 25, 2014. Mr. Williams stated that there
should be a letter from the ANC saying that if the owners do not agree to move the Public Space
hearing back a month, the Commission will oppose the application based on concerns that the size
and location will have a negative effect on the surrounding community.
Motion: Mr. Williams moved/Mr. Alberti seconded a motion to conditionally oppose Sahra’s Public
Space application unless it agrees to postpone its hearing, and to recommend that the café
operate no later than 11:00 pm on weekdays and 12:00 am on Saturday and Sunday and that the
total occupancy be limited to 44 patrons. The motion passed 5-1-0 with Ms. Phillips-Gilbert in
opposition.
6. SMD Reports
Mrs. Phillips-Gilbert reported that she attended the Bureau of Zoning Authority (BZA) hearing for
1717 E Street NE in her Single Member District (SMD), and spoke with the BZA Chair about the
possibility of conducting training for ANC Commissioners. She attended a meeting of the Business
Advisory Council of the Eastern High School Health and Medical Academy, and provided them with
an ANC 6A grant application. She made phone calls for a broken sign pole, sidewalk repairs and to
request additional trash receptacles at the Rosedale Recreation Center. Finally, she is organizing
a Community Watch meeting in April 2014.
Mr. Holmes reported that the signs he requested for Tenth (10th) Street NE and Massachusetts
Avenue NE are being installed. He said that 700 Constitution Avenue NE has a new owner. It will
be a 143-unit building, and while it is a by-right project there will be historic preservation issues
involved. Finally, he said that the zoning rewrite is in deep trouble and may not be going
anywhere.
Mr. Mahmud thanked Mr. Holmes and Mr. Williams again for their work on Ben’s Chili Bowl and
reported that bike lanes are on tap for G and I Streets NE and they will be striped as soon as it gets
warm.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.