Around 40 people attended last night’s ANC 6B meeting at the Hill Center. Here is a brief recap of the commission’s major actions:
- ANC 6B unanimously approved sending a letter (pdf) to the Zoning Administrator asking that construction on a new two-story commercial building at 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (the old KFC site) be allowed to begin without further Board of Zoning Adjustment Review (read more about the rationale for this request). A big thanks to the residents who waited patiently through a long meeting agenda to weigh in on this request and to all who posted comments or sent me e-mails. I’m hopeful that our letter will be persuasive with the Zoning Administrator.
- On an 8-0-1 vote, the Commission passed a resolution (pdf) supporting closure of the 300 block of 7th Street SE on Saturdays and Sundays during construction of the Hine School development. Closure of the street is necessary since construction will displace the flea markets currently operating on the Hine parking lot. I voted in support of the resolution.
- Though the notice was extremely late, the commission voted unanimously to support the route for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk taking place this weekend in DC. Walkers will begin on Friday morning at RFK Stadium and will return that evening to RFK. A Komen representative said that the walkers will obey traffic signals and that volunteers will be positioned at key intersections to ensure that traffic can proceed.
- ANC 6B voted 9-1 to support sending a letter to District Department of Transportation Director Terry Bellamy asking why ANC 6B has not been properly notified of Public Space Committee actions regarding a fence built on public space at 768 13th Street SE. The commission has previously voted in support of removing the fence from public space. I voted in support of sending the letter.
- The commission unanimously voted to support a grant request (pdf) by the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop for its proposed “Two Views” project. The project involves images that would be projected from two upstairs windows at CHAW’s building at 7th & G Streets SE. CHAW is requesting a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
- Requests by La Plaza restaurant (629 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) to increase its occupancy load and extend its hours of operation and hours of alcohol sales/service/consumption were unanimously approved by the Commission. La Plaza is adding another floor of seating at its current location. Owner Henry Mendoza did sign a voluntary agreement with the Commission.
- ANC 6B voted 6-1-2 to support sending a resolution (pdf) to congressional leaders opposing the planned across-the-board budget cuts (a.k.a. “sequestration”) scheduled to take effect in January 2013. The Mayor’s Office is requesting that each ANC in DC pass such a resolution. Given the potential negative consequences that sequestration could have on DC and my overall dislike of across-the-board cuts, I voted in support of the resolution.
- DC Fire & EMS Chief Kenneth Ellerbe provided an update on his department’s activities. He reminded attendees that Fire & EMS will provide and install free smoke alarms to DC residents. If you are interested, you can request a smoke alarm online or by calling 202-673-3331.
- ANC 6B’s November meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).
Brian Flahaven 