ANC 6C Minutes
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Heritage Foundation
214 Massachusetts Avenue N.E.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.
Quorum
A quorum of six out of six commissioners was present (Mr. Eckenwiler, Mr. Goodman, Mr. Miller, Mr. Price, Ms. Schiffman, and Ms. Wirt).
Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was approved without objection. Motion: Mr. Goodman/Mr. Eckenwiler
Approval of January Minutes
The minutes were approved without objection, with the caveat that commissioners have one week to report any corrections. Motion: Ms. Wirt/Mr. Eckenwiler
Treasurer’s Report
Mr. Price presented the treasurer’s report as follows. The beginning balance was $49,134.83. There was an interest payment from Bank of America of $0.41. There was a refund from the grant to J.O. Wilson School of $67.11. There were three checks written: #1294, 2015 ANC 6C monthly ads in the Capitol Hill Rag, $1,350; #1295, reimbursement to Ms. Wirt for payment of ANC 6C post box rental, $171.00; #1296, payment to ANC security fund, $25.00. The closing balance was $47,681.35. The treasurer’s report and the expenses within were approved without objection. Motion: Mr. Eckenwiler/Mr. Miller
Two new expenses were presented: Ms. DuCote, chair of the ANC 6C Grants Committee, submitted a receipt for copying flyers to advertise the ANC 6C Grants Writing Seminar held February 7, 2015, to encourage the community to apply for grants to improve ANC 6C, $130.96; Ms. Wirt submitted a receipt for $95.00 to print ANC business cards for Mr. Miller, which shows an increase of $5.00 by the printer over the $90.00 approved in January. The expenses were approved without objection. Motion: Ms. Wirt/Mr. Miller.
Consent Calendar
The items on the consent calendar are noncontroversial matters for which there is no objection by the community or need for detailed discussion. These items can be described briefly and voted upon with a single vote, provided there is no objection from any commissioner.
1. Christine Healey was nominated to serve as chair of the ANC 6C Parks and Events Committee.
2. Ms. Schiffman renominated her ANC 6C01 committee members.
3. Mr. Eckenwiler nominated 710 A Street NE, BZA application 18947 for a second story rear addition to an existing single-family dwelling in an R-4 district. The Historic Preservation Office has approved the application, and the neighbors on either side have written letters of support. (Note: Mr. Goodman recused himself for this vote.)
4. Mr. Eckenwiler nominated 640 Lexington Place, BZA application 18921 for a third-story addition that has been approved by the Historic Preservation Office and has no objections by the community.
The consent calendar was approved unanimously, 6:0:0 (with Mr. Goodman recusing himself from the 710 A vote). Motion: Ms. Wirt/Mr. Eckenwiler
Brief Community Announcements
1. The University of Georgia, D.C. campus, 608 Massachusetts Avenue NE—Mr. Caulder Harvill-Childs stated the facility will have an open house on February 27. He hopes the campus will be part of the community and welcomes the community at its cultural events. Students will not be permitted to bring cars when attending this campus.
2. Mr. Frank Maduro from Mayor Bowser’s office described a budget forum to seek community input on February 23 at Dunbar High School for Ward 6 citizens. He gave his contact telephone as (202) 538-0313.
Grants Committee (Sonte DuCote, chair)
Ms. DuCote briefly described the Grants Writing Seminar held February 7, which Council Member Charles Allen attended. About 40 people attended representing 12 groups. The ANC provides these grants with taxpayer money to bring improvements to the neighborhood. She said ANC 6C residents and establishments such as schools can submit grants applications online to www.anc6c.org, and there is a PowerPoint slide presentation there as well. The deadline for the next grant cycle is March 15.
Alcoholic Beverage Committee (Drew Courtney, chair)
1. Sticky Fingers Bakery Bistro/Fare Well, 406 H Street NE, new license application 097260—This establishment has a March 2 deadline for petition filing. ANC 6C has been negotiating with this applicant regarding hours (to 2:00 am on weekends) and trash. The ANC will protest the license to obtain better hours for the community and trash control. The establishment plans to open in July. Mr. Prestwood, ANC 6C ABC Committee member, will serve as the representative of ANC 6C in this protest, with Mr. Courtney serving as an alternative. The vote was unanimous to support the protest, 6:0:0. Motion: Ms. Wirt/Mr. Eckenwiler
2. Addis, 707 H Street NE, new license in process—This establishment will come to ANC 6C in March once it is placarded by ABRA. It is seeking a stipulated license and an entertainment license.
3. Beer Garden, 150 M Street NE—This establishment, with “Wundergarten” over the door, has the support of NoMa and REI. Two complications are (1) it is entirely outdoors near an apartment building and (2) it has a lease that expires in September. The lot will have benches and a tent on the northeast corner to serve 200-300 people, with the remainder of the lot being grass and open to the community. It hopes to open April 1, with no amplified music and hours to 10 pm weekdays and midnight on weekends. It will perhaps seek a stipulated license. The applicant hopes to have placarding in place and thus return to ANC 6C in March.
Parks and Events Committee (Christine Healey, chair)
1. Skanska, 22, 44, and 88 M Street NE, NoMa Meander project—This involves a 5,000 square feet parcel, D.C. owned, that the developer plans to convert into a park-like area with trees, benches, and fun art for children. The applicant seeks ANC 6C assistance by writing letters of support to DDOT and DGS. The commissioners voted unanimously to support, 6:0:0. Motion: Mr. Goodman/Ms. Wirt
2. NoMa Parks Foundation, temporary project on First Street, park amenities—This is a temporary park in the NoMa area with seating, play areas, and a take-out restaurant at the “front porch” of this development on First Street NE. The temporary park is planned for warm months, spring through October. There are three parts to the development plan: L and Pierce Streets, Pierce and M, and a potential dog run in an area near the current Ibiza. The applicant hopes to apply for permits soon and return to ANC 6C in March.
3. Rock n’ Roll Marathon, status—This event is planned for March 14, but because the route has not yet been finalized the event organizers have not yet published a map of the route showing openings for residents to exit the area as requested by ANC 6C. As of a week ago, H Street and Massachusetts Avenue are the only exits, and they are on the west end of Capitol Hill. Mr. Price stated that although the event has gotten better through the years because of ANC input, there are still problems. Ms. Wirt asked if the organizers planned to distribute door hangers to homes along the route. Even with door hangers, however, not every resident would have a map with exits indicated. ANC 6C continues to monitor the logistics of this event.
Transportation and Public Space Committee (Mark Kazmierczak, chair)
1. 800 block of 7th Street NE—A resident appealed to the committee regarding on-street RPP parking that will be lost due to construction of the Apollo project on H Street and a request for metered spots to be converted, at least temporarily, to RPP spots to compensate. Because there was no representative at the ANC meeting who could explain what spots were requested to be changed and there were few spots that could fit the description, no motion was made, either at the committee meeting or the full-Commission meeting.
2. Storey Park, 1005 First Street NE, old Greyhound Bus station—Public space in front of this project is proposed to be used by the NoMa BID to create a pedestrian park, but the developers presented a plan for a park in case such a NoMa park does not come to fruition. The application includes trees, bike racks, a rain garden, and sidewalk improvements. The commissioners voted unanimously to support the plan for this public space, 5:0:0 (with Mr. Goodman temporarily out of the room). Motion: Mr. Miller/Ms. Wirt
3. Ludlow Taylor School, south side of G Street west of 7th Street and west side of 7th Street between G and Morris Place N.E., school student drop-off and pick-up zones—A notice of intent to install signage was received from DDOT to permit temporary parking, 8 am to 4 pm on school days. The commissioners, while understanding the parents’ need for this space, voted unanimously, 6:0:0, to support, pending DDOT explanation of the following: (1) 15-minute parking cannot be enforced by DPW; (2) signage requiring the parent/driver to remain in the vehicle is inconsistent with the need to escort very small children into the school; (3) why is the entire day needed for this purpose rather than specific time periods, for example only 8:00-9:30 am and 2:30-3:30 pm? Motion: Mr. Miller/Ms. Wirt
4. Stuart Hobson Middle School, 410 E Street NE—Ongoing renovations at the school call for DGS to build a brick trash/recycling enclosure on public space at F Street. There are problems with this plan, including gates swinging outward and trash is not allowed on public space; rather, it should be located in the interior. No vote was taken as this item must come to the ANC formally by the Historic Preservation Office.
5. Parking on the 600 block of 2nd Street NE—New signs have been installed by DDOT without prior notice to ANC 6C, which is required by law. The commissioners voted unanimously, 6:0:0, to send a letter to the DDOT interim director, Mr. Leif Dormsjo, to obtain an explanation. Mr. Eckenwiler tried to have a representative from DDOT attend the meeting but no one from DDOT attended. Motion: Mr. Eckenwiler/Mr. Miller
Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee (Mr. Eckenwiler, chair)
1. 412 7th Street NE, HPA 15-199, concept approval, rear porch enclosure—Gayll Worsley, architect. The commissioners voted unanimously, 6:0:0, to support the enclosure with the following conditions: (1) the south façade should be faced in brick, not hardiboard, as it faces directly onto Lexington Place; (2) the project should maintain the same footprint; and (3) a letter should be sent to DDOT requesting removal of the curb cut on Lexington Place because no garage will be built and the driveway is narrow, making any parked cars on the driveway extend into the pedestrian walkway. Motion: Mr. Eckenwiler/Mr. Goodman.
2. Update on I-395 construction project—Beginning February 9 there is no more night/weekend work on Massachusetts Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets NW (except on occasional “make-up” days). In April the focus of work will move to the south side of Massachusetts Avenue. Starting February 24 work will begin on I-395, including permanent closure of the 3rd Street exit ramp and periodic late-night closures, at times down to one lane in each direction. The new phase will run until late 2015, although work in and on the highway itself will extend for approximately five years.
3. 300-320 M Street NE—This is a mixed-use PUD project, with upper floors of 400 residential units and 15,000 feet of retail on the first level of 3rd Street. The applicant will be back with more information at a later date, including public amenities.
4. 1270 4th Street, ZC 14-07, revised application, PUD and map amendment—This is an update in response to ANC 6C concerns. The hearing has been postponed until March 26. Although the project is located in Ward 5, ANC 6C plans to file for party status. The applicant has agreed to open up Neal Place, which ANC 6C requested, but the ANC still has concerns about the western façade and the lack of public amenities. At this point the commissioners do not have enough information to support or oppose. The applicant will return to ANC 6C in March.
New Business
1. Oversight hearings by the D.C. Council were announced. Mr. Eckenwiler said he plans to testify regarding the Stuart Hobson project and DPW failure to enforce RPP.
2. Ms. Elizabeth Glover, in attendance, is a business owner on H Street and complained about the affect on businesses of bus stops on 4th and 5th taking up parking spaces. She also mentioned DDOT new signage on the north side of the 500 block with no prior notice. She will work with her commissioner, Mr. Miller.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 pm.