February 2014 Minutes

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6E

Public Meeting

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6E convened at the Northwest One Library, 155 L Street, N.W., Washington, DC, on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.   Chair Alexander M. 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

Alvin Judd, Sr., ANC 6E06

Absent:

Alfreda S. Judd, ANC 6E07

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 Maceda moved and Commissioner Chapple seconded that the Agenda be approved as amended.   The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.) – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

3. III.           PSA REPORTS:  METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT 1D AND 3D
   
   Sgt. James Bowler and Officer Adam Johnston (email:  adam.johnston@dc.gov; cell:  717-515-2003) reported on crime activity in 1D.

   Sgt. Richard Ehrlich reported on crime activity in 3D and noted an increase in Thefts from Autos.

   Crime statistics for the indicated periods are as follows:
   

1. IV.          welcome from library

   Kathy Jenkins, Library Manager, welcomed ANC 6E to its first meeting at the new location at Northwest One Library.  She encouraged those present to start using the library.

   She introduced Judith Oliver, who heads up the Children’s Program.  Ms. Oliver mentioned the follow programming at the branch:

• Story time every Wednesday morning;
• Yoga classes second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month;
• Ladies Night Book Club fourth Thursday of each month;
• Tech Monday – computer classes for seniors – 3:00 pm to 5:00 p.m.
• Job Seekers Program every Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

1. V.           brief remarks:  chief ellerbe, dc fire and emergency medical services

   Chief Ellerbe provided a PowerPoint handout in which he highlighted the following:  Dispatched Calls by Call Type, Average Response Counts to EMS Calls, Average Response Time of First Arriving EMT at Critical Medical Calls, 30 New Ambulances Ordered and All Units in service, Average Age of Fleet, and Cadet Training Classes.

   A question and answer period followed.  Commissioner Padro reported that residents across the street from a proposed temporary location for Engine Company No.16 had concerns about sirens blaring from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.  Chief Ellerbe responded that DC law prohibits sirens of DC Fire and Emergency vehicles from being turned off.

2. VI.          1538-42 9^th street, nw:  update on development of carter g. woodson national historic site (national park service)
   
   Dr. Joy Kinard of the National Park Service provided an update on the development of the Carter G. Woodson National Historic Site.  She reported the following in regard to the funding:

She stated that American Express provided a $75,000 award towards the development of the Carter G. Woodson National Historic Site.

She also stated that in recognition of Black History Month, the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House and the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Sites will offer the following events to recognize the history of African Americans:

“Continuing the Woodson Legacy:  Preserving Your Family’s History”
Date:  February 8, 2014
Location:  Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Public Library

“The Cost:  Then and Now of the Civil Rights Movement in America”
Date:  February 15, 2014
Location:  Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Public Library

1. VII.         901 5^th street, nw (northeast corner of 5^th & I streets, nw):  short presentations on best and final offers and anc 6e consideration of recommendations to deputy mayor for planning and economic development regarding shortlisted developer proposals (akridge, csg urban partners, jbg, peebles)

   The four (4) short listed developers were asked to provide five-minute presentations on their best and final offers as follows:

Commissioner Maceda expressed her appreciation to all the developers and stated that this has been a long process.  All the proposals have unique features and the Commission appreciates the time and effort put into them.

Other Commissioners expressed their deep appreciation to Commissioner Maceda for her time and effort on this project.  They also thanked the developers and noted that it will be a difficult decision on behalf of the Commission.

Thereafter, Commissioner Padro asked each of the commissioners to rank their choices based on a scale of first through fourth places:

After Commissioner Padro tabulated the results, he announced the following:

1^st Place:  Tie vote between CSG and Akridge
2^nd Place:  Peebles
3^rd Place:  JBG

MOTION: Commissioner Padro moved and Commissioner Maceda seconded that ANC 6E communicate in writing its recommendations regarding the short-listed developer proposals (1^st Place:  CSG and Akridge, 2^nd Place:  Peebles, 3^rd Place:  JBG) to the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED).  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.) – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

1. VIII.       415 M street, nw:  request for support for historic preservation design review for partial demolition, renovation and additions to building for condominium development (blackrock holdings)

   Patrick Moran, Managing Partner, BlackRock Holdings, LLC, spoke regarding his firm’s plans for partial demolition, renovation, and additions to the building at 415 M Street, NW for condominium development wherein the single family home will be converted into six (6) condos.

   Commissioner Nigro stated her opinion that the proposed architectural design did not lend itself to the historic appearance of the adjoining homes on M Street, NW.  She also noted that the front yard should be divided up so that it looks like two yards.

   MOTION: Commissioner Nigro moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that ANC 6E not support the 415 M Street, NW, project as currently proposed, that the applicant incorporate community and commission input and revise the façade of the new construction so it is more in style with the other buildings on the block, and that this be communicated in writing to the Historic Preservation Review Board.  The Motion passed, 5 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.) – 1 nay (Commissioner Maceda) – 0 abstentions.

2. IX.          455 I street, nw:  request for SUPPORT for two year extension of previous board of zoning adjustment approval for zoning relief for mixed use development (equity residential)

   Jeffrey Utz, Goulston & Storrs, spoke in support of Equity Residential’s request for a two-year extension of a previous Board of Zoning Adjustment approval of zoning relief for mixed use development at 455 I Street, NW.  Mr. Utz stated that the ANC had supported this two years ago.  He asked for an extension of  variances with no changes to the existing design.  The four (4) variances are:  (1) joint townhouses; (2) lot occupancy; (3) roof structure relief; (4) FAR relief.

   Commissioner Maceda stated that this was the last of the rundown areas in her SMD and that ANC 6E’s Planning, Transportation and Zoning Committee met the previous week and recommended that a one-year extension be offered with the condition that they beautify the site.

   MOTION: Commissioner Maceda moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that ANC 6E support a one-year extension of the zoning relief for 455 I Street, NW, and that said support be communicated in writing to the Bureau of Zoning Adjustment (BZA).  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.) – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

3. X.           923-25 5^th street, nw (dacha beer garden 2):  request for support for stipulated and permanent restaurant class t liquor licenses for new outdoor beer garden (daci, inc.)

   Ilya Alter and Dmitri Chekaldin spoke in support of stipulated and permanent Class T liquor licenses for a proposed second location of Dacha Beer Garden at 923-25 5^th Street, NW.  The beer garden will be located on the empty lot behind the brick wall at that location.

   Commissioner Padro stated that ANC 6E’s ABC Licensing Committee met with Mr. Alter and Mr. Chekaldin and recommended that the Commission support their request, provided that a Voluntary/Settlement Agreement be executed.

   MOTION: Commissioner Padro moved and Commissioner Maceda seconded that ANC 6E support the request for stipulated and permanent retailers Class T liquor licenses for Dacha Beer Garden 2 at 923-25 5^th Street, NW, contingent upon the signing of a Voluntary Agreement covering noise issues, that there be a limitation on the entertainment offered, with no music played after 8:00 p.m., and that said support be communicated in writing to the Director of ABRA and the ABC Board. The Motion passed, 5 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, and Judd, Sr.) – 1 nay (Commissioner Wiggins) – 0 abstentions.

4. XI.          717 n street, nw:  request for support for street closures for immaculate conception catholic church 150^th anniversary block party, may 17, 2014 (immaculate conception catholic church)

   MOTION: Commissioner Wiggins moved and Commissioner Judd, Sr. seconded that ANC 6E support the street closures requested by Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in order to present a 150th Anniversary Block Party on May 17, 2014, and that said support be communicated in writing to the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.) – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

5. XII.         1400 7^th street, nw:  update on development of city market at o (roadside development)

   Armand Spikell of Roadside Development provided an update on the City Market at O development.

• The grocery store is now open;
• Residents are moving in; there will be four (4) residential buildings – three under construction;
• Affordable housing for residents age 55 and older; 78 units were originally proposed; 90 units were actually built;
• 35% of contracting will be with local certified business entities;
• Jobs:  Have contract with Living Classrooms for training;

1. XIII.       7^th & p streets, nw:  update on development of corner and adjacent parcels (valor development)

   Will Lansing of Valor Development provided a brief update on development of corner and adjacent parcels at 7^th & P Streets, NW.

   He stated that Valor Development is successfully working on this and closing on its last two adjacent properties in the next 60 days.  The release of the RFP for the city-owned corner, Parcel 20, is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2014.

2. XIV.      community impact statements for isaiah green and antonio peoples (gang-related drug crimes)

   MOTION: Commissioner Padro moved and Commissioner Wiggins seconded that ANC 6E authorize the issuance of Community Impact Statements for Isaiah Green and Antonio Peoples and that said Community Impact Statements be forwarded to the DC Superior Court.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.) – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

3. XV.        approval of 2014 anc 6e budget

   Commissioner Chapple presented a proposed ANC 6E 2014 CY Budget for approval as follows:

   Promotions                                                                                                    $  1,000
   Website                                                                                                          $     125
   Copying/Newsletter                                                                                     $  4,200
   Administrative Services                                                                              $  1,375
   P. O. Box                                                                                                       $     400
   ANC Security Fund                                                                                     $       25
   Supplies                                                                                                        $     200
   Miscellaneous                                                                                              $  1,000
   Grants*                                                                                                           $12,000

   TOTAL                                                                                                          $20,325
   
   *The maximum grant amount shall be $1,500.00.

   01/31/14 Checking Account Balance:  $49,334.86
   Quarterly Allotment:  $3,777.73
   Total Annual Allotment:  $15,110.92

   MOTION: Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Padro seconded that ANC 6E accept the Proposed 2014 ANC 6E Budget as presented.   The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.) – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

4. XVI.      other NEW BUSIness

   None.

5. XVII.     OLD BUSINESS

   None.

6. XVIII.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES – january 8, 2014

   MOTION:  Commissioner Padro moved and Commissioner Maceda seconded that the Minutes of the January 8, 2014 ANC 6E Public Meeting be approved with corrections to be submitted.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.)   – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

7. XIX.      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 February 4, 2014 Public Meeting be approved.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, Judd, Sr., and Judd) – 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 February 2014 newsletter be approved.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.,) – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.

8. XX.        announcements

   None.

9. XVII.     next meeting

   Tuesday, March 4, 2014, Northwest One Library, 155 L Street, NW, 6:30 p.m.

10. XVIII.    ADJOURNMENT

    MOTION:    There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Padro moved and Commissioner Maceda seconded that the meeting be adjourned.  The Motion passed unanimously, 6 yeas (Commissioners Nigro, Padro, Maceda, Chapple, Wiggins, and Judd, Sr.) – 0 nays – 0 abstentions.   The meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.