Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B held its March meeting on Tuesday, March 11 at the Hill Center. Amazingly, the commission voted unanimously (9-0) on every item put to a vote (note that one commissioner was unable to attend). Here are the highlights:
- The commission voted unanimously to send a letter (pdf) to DC Department of General Services Director Brian Hanlon encouraging his department to delay issuing a Request for Offers for the Eastern Branch Building (261 17th Street SE) until they receive formal comments from ANC 6B. The commission plans to hold two additional Hill East Task Force meetings on future uses of the building in April and hopes to have formal comments finalized by mid-May.
- The commission voted 9-0 to support the public space permit application for Goldstar Group’s proposed 41-unit residential building at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.
- I provided an update on efforts to convince the District Department of Transportation to approve the original angled driveway entrance for NOVO Development’s proposed 77-unit residential building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. During the Board of Zoning Adjustment’s review of the project last May, DDOT required the developer to change the angled driveway entrance since it would be partially located on the sidewalk (public space). Neighbors and I are concerned that the revised driveway configuration (pdf) will allow vehicles traveling south on the extremely narrow Freedom Way alley to enter the garage. The final plans should encourage vehicles to enter and exit the garage via Kentucky Avenue SE. Prior to the commission meeting, neighbors and I met with the developer and DDOT to discuss the issue. Given DDOT’s continued opposition to the angled driveway design, I plan to continue working with the developer and neighbors to find solutions to the problem using the revised configuration.
- Sharon Cooke and Richard Jackson of the District Department of the Environment and Timothy Fields of MDB, Inc. provided a brief presentation on DDOE’s Anacostia River Sediment Project. The department plans to begin an assessment of contaminants in the Anacostia River and will propose remedies to cleanup the river. Throughout the project, DDOE will follow a community involvement plan that includes reaching out to environmental groups, affected ANCs and other community stakeholders to get input and feedback. After hearing the presentation, the commission voted unanimously to send a letter(pdf) to DDOE with comments on the project’s community involvement plan.
- ANC 6B approved two resolutions and a letter (pdf) outlining projects the commission supports for DDOT’s Performance Parking Zone Community Benefits Program. DDOT is seeking project ideas that provide or accelerate non-automobile transportation investments in the city’s Performance Parking Zones. In addition to submitting our own list of projects, the commission is supporting a number of the project ideas submitted by Barracks Row Main Street and the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District. The proposed projects must be within or adjacent to Performance Parking Zones (ANC 6B’s current PPZ is located between South Capitol Street, I-395, 9th Street SE and Independence Ave SE).
- The commission voted 9-0 to send a letter (pdf) to Mayor Gray that includes ANC 6B’s comments on the Virginia Avenue Tunnel Reconstruction Draft Environmental Impact Statement and adds concerns about the environmental aspects of the proposed reconstruction project.
- ANC 6B’s April meeting will be on Tuesday, April 8, 7 pm at the Hill Center.
Brian Flahaven 