April 2014 Minutes

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6E

Public Meeting

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6E convened at the Northwest One Library, 155 L Street, N.W., Washington, DC, on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 6:31 p.m.   Chair Alexander Padro presided.

Present:

Alexander M. Padro, Chair, ANC 6E01

Rachelle P. Nigro, Vice Chair, ANC 6E04

Marge Maceda, Secretary, ANC 6E05

Kevin L. Chapple, Treasurer, ANC 6E02

Frank S. Wiggins, ANC 6E03

Alfreda S. Judd, ANC 6E07 (arrived at 6:52 p.m.)

Absent:

Alvin Judd, Sr., ANC 6E06

1. I.              CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

   Chair Alexander Padro called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.  The roll was called and the presence of a quorum was noted.

2. II.            APPROVAL OF AGENDA

   MOTION: Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Maceda seconded that the Agenda be approved as amended.   The Motion passed unanimously, 5 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.   (Commissioner Alfreda Judd had not yet arrived).

3. III.           PSA REPORTS:  METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT 1D AND 3D
   
   No representatives were present from 1D or 3D.

   Crime statistics for the indicated periods are as follows:

1. IV.          621 P street, nw:  request for zoning relief to allow nonconforming restaurant use (maggot funk, llc)

   Attorney Meridith Moldenhauer (Griffin, Murphy, Moldenhauer & Wiggins, LLP) spoke in regard to the request by Maggot Funk, LLC for zoning relief to allow nonconforming restaurant use at 621 P Street, NW.  She advised that the site has had a variety of uses in the past.  The applicant is asking for permission to change the existing office use to a café and restaurant.  The exterior of the building will be improved.  They have received positive feedback from the community.  There will be exterior venting for the kitchen.  They have put together an operational plan for trash pickups and removal of cooking oil; there will be no deep frying.  There will be no outdoor amplified music. The resulting café and restaurant will provide a benefit to the community. 

   MOTION: Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that ANC 6E support the request for zoning relief by Maggot Funk, LLC to allow nonconforming restaurant use of the property at 621 P Street, NW  and that said support be communicated in writing to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA).   The Motion passed unanimously, 5 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.   (Commissioner Alfreda Judd had not yet arrived).

2. V.           899 o street, nw:  request for support for stipulated and permanent retailer’s class c hotel licenses (cambria suites)

   Attorney Stephen O’Brien (Mallios & O’Brien) and Francisco Selles of Cambria Suites spoke in support of Cambria Suites’ request for support for Stipulated and Permanent Retailer’s Class C hotel licenses at 899 O Street, NW.  Food and beverages will be served on the second floor.  It is intended for the guests of the hotel, but the general public is welcomed.  Nothing will be served after 11:00 pm.

   There will be a discounted room rate for Shaw residents and their guests.  The planned opening is May 1, 2014.  ANC 6E’s ABC Licensing Committee has recommended approval.

   MOTION: Commissioner Padro moved and Commissioner Maceda seconded that ANC 6E support the issuance of Stipulated and Permanent Retailer’s Class C  licenses for Cambria Suites at 899 O Street, NW and that said support be communicated in writing to the ABC Board and ABRA.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

3. VI.          1600 17^th street, nw:  request for support for change in hours of operation (dacha beer garden)

   Commissioner Padro spoke on behalf of Dacha Beer Garden’s request for support for a change in hours of operation.  He noted the following actions taken by ANC 6E’s ABC Licensing Committee:  (1) the committee supported Dacha Beer Garden’s request to remove the restriction on the hour the establishment opens each day; (2) the committee supported the applicant’s request to equate the holiday hours of operation to their weekend hours; (3) the committee did not support Dacha Beer Garden’s request to consider allowing amplified music.

   MOTION: Commissioner Padro moved and Commissioner Chapple seconded that ANC 6E support the opening hours of operation for Dacha Beer Garden beginning at 7:00 a.m. daily and the implementation of weekend hours for holidays, but that ANC 6E continue the restriction on any form of entertainment on the premises and that these provisions be incorporated into a new Voluntary Agreement to be submitted to the ABC Board and ABRA.  The Motion passed, 4 yeas (Commissioners Padro, Chapple, Maceda, and Judd) – 2 nays (Commissioners Wiggins and Nigro) – 0 abstentions.

4. VII.         901 6^th street, nw:  request for support for public space permit for unenclosed sidewalk café (hampton inn)

   Attorney Stephen O’Brien (Mallios & O’Brien) spoke on behalf of the Hampton Inn’s request for support for a Public Space Permit for an unenclosed sidewalk café at the corner of 6^th and Massachusetts Avenue, NW.  ANC 6E supported the initial request for a Public Space Permit at its September 4, 2013 Public Meeting.                However, there is a traffic signal box within four (4) feet of the exterior boundary of the café and the entire application had to be resubmitted.

   MOTION: Commissioner Maceda moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that ANC 6E support the request of the Hampton Inn, 901 6^th Street, NW, for a Public Space Permit for an unenclosed sidewalk café.    The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

5. VIII.       900 – 1700 blocks of 7^th street, nw:  north-south corridor study information presentation (ddot)

   No representative was present.
   

6. IX.          500 – 600 blocks of rhode island avenue, nw, south side:  presentation on northeast boundary tunnel (dc water)

   Ainsworth Marshall, P.E. and Emanuel Briggs, Manager, Community Outreach, DC Water & Sewer Authority, provided a slide presentation on the Northeast Boundary Tunnel and the impact of construction staging areas on ANC 6E residents.  Flooding has been a chronic problem in the following areas:  6^th & R Streets, NW, Rhode Island Avenue & T Street, NW (Thomas and Flagler), Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station, West Virginia Avenue, NE, and Mt. Olivet Road, NE.  Diversion facilities would be constructed near chronic flood areas along the tunnel alignment to relieve the existing sewer system.  A traffic advisory was sent on March 21, 2014 for planned work.  All current work in ANC 6E is being conducted for investigatory purposes only (surveying, geotechnical borings, field investigations, flow monitoring, traffic counts).  Investigatory work is short-term and necessary for the progression of the design (small work zones [typically the size of a block], temporary traffic detours and lane closure [typically less than two weeks at any single location]).  DC Water will hold a Ward 6 Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution Avenue, NE, to address rates and construction projects.  A question and answer period followed.  Commissioner Padro asked what is the plan for removing the sandbags at 7^th and R Streets and Rhode Island Avenue, NW.

   MOTION: Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Maceda seconded that ANC 6E send a letter to DC Water with a copy to DDOT outlining its concerns regarding the Northeast Boundary Tunnel project and mitigating its effects on residents in ANC 6E.   The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

7. X.           residents only parking in 6e04:  status of requests (ddot)

   Commissioner Nigro reported that residents in ANC 6E04 prepared petitions for Residents Only Parking in the following four (4) blocks:  (1) 200 block on N Street, NW, (2) Kirby Street, NW, (3) 300 block of M Street, NW, and (4) 1100 block of 5^th Street, NW.  The request was approved and the signs were prepared, but then the process stopped pending potential citywide changes to Residential Permit Parking.

   MOTION: Commissioner Nigro moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that ANC 6E write a letter of support to DDOT recommending that the petitions for  Residents Only Parking at the foregoing locations be honored and that the signs be installed.    The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

8. XI.          1206 4^th street, nw (church of the living god):  community noise complaints

   James Brush, a resident on M Street, NW, spoke regarding what he felt was excessive amplified music over 60 decibels coming from the church at least five (5) nights weekly and during Saturday afternoons.  He cited Section 20-2700, “General Provisions,” of the DC Noise Ordinance.  He stated that 13 living units on M Street and another 15 apartments are impacted because they have windows that directly face onto the building the church uses.  The music is easily heard within households, preventing normal activities such as watching TV, playing music and sleeping.  MPD informed him that DCRA is responsible for noise enforcement when it occurs prior to 10:30 p.m.  DCRA subsequently informed Commissioner Nigro that it does not regulate churches.

   A representative of the Church of the Living God stated that police have come to the church’s door and that they have scaled back their services.   She further stated that other residents have not complained and that the church has been there for 50 years.

   Commissioner Nigro stated that there will be a meeting with the Mayor’s Office regarding the matter.

   In the meantime, the commissioners suggested that Mr. Brush get a decibel reader and maintain a written record of dates and times of the decibel readings.

9. XII.         age friendly dc:  information presentation (dc commission on aging)

   No representative present.

10. XIII.       emmaus services for the aging:  information presentation

    No representative present.

11. XIV.      OTHER NEW BUSINESS

    1126 5^th Street, NW:  Request for Support for Historic Preservation Approval for Revised Plans for Rowhouse Condo Conversion (K2 Investments)

    David Morris, Architect, Trout Design Studio, spoke in support for Historic Preservation Approval for Revised Plans for the conversion of a single family row house to a 4 unit condominium with a proposed cellar stair at the front and rear addition.  He submitted revised plans illustrating the rear view of the structure.

    MOTION: Commissioner Nigro moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that ANC 6E support the changes to the rear of the structure at 1126 5^th Street, NW and that said support be communicated in writing to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB).    The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

12. XV.        OLD BUSINESS

    None.

13. XVI.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES – march 4, 2014

    MOTION:  Commissioner Maceda moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that the Minutes of the ANC 6E Public Meeting of March 4, 2014 be approved with corrections to be submitted to the Secretary.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

14. XVII.     APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT

    Commissioner Chapple reported that the balance in the ANC 6E checking account is $51,673.53 and all outstanding checks have been deposited by vendors.

    MOTION:  Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that the Treasurer’s Report be approved as submitted.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

15. XVIII.    approval of expenses
    1. A.       MOTION:  Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that the invoice submitted by Karen Loveridge in the amount of $125.00 for recording services for the ANC 6E April 1, 2014 Public Meeting be approved.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

    2. B.       MOTION:  Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that the invoice submitted by Miller Copying in the amount of $400.00 for the printing of the April 2014 newsletter be approved.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

    3. C.       MOTION:  Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Maceda seconded that Commissioner Padro be reimbursed in the amount of $342.00 for payment of the ANC post office box for the period March 2014 to March 2015.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.
       

16. XIX.      announcements
    1. A.           Commissioner Padro announced that Shaw Main Streets 2014 Gala will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Libations and other beverages will be served.  Tickets are $75.00 each.

    2. B.           Commissioner Padro announced that Shaw Main Streets will hold its rescheduled Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the rooftop lounge at City Market at O’s West Building, 800 P Street, NW.
    3. C.           Commissioner Padro announced that DC Public Schools will hold two public meetings this month relating to attendance boundaries, one on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at Dunbar High School, and the other on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 9:00 a.m., also at Dunbar High School.

    4. D.           Commissioner Nigro announced that her annual media mixer will be held on April 29, 2014 at Hogo Bar at 6:30 p.m.

    5. E.           Commissioner Maceda announced that Mt. Carmel Baptist Church is hosting a jazz quartet with a singer on Friday, May 30, 2014.  Donations are $20.00.
    6. F.            The One City Green Lifestyle Festival will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at the Kennedy Recreation Center relating to Earth Day and Keep Shaw Beautiful Day.
    7. G.           Library Manager Kathy Jenkins stated that National Library Workers Day is April 15, 2014 where patrons can honor the contributions of library workers, librarians, and support staff.  She urged residents to go to the DC Public Library website and nominate their favorite person by April 8, 2014.
17. XVII.     next meeting

    Tuesday, May 6, 2014, Northwest One Library, 155 L Street, NW, 6:30 p.m.

18. XVIII.    ADJOURNMENT

    MOTION:    There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Maceda moved and Commissioner Chapple seconded that the meeting be adjourned.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.   The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.