Brian Flahaven

Zoning relief for 1500 Penn Ave SE, agency oversight hearing testimony and committee/task force chair elections were on the agenda for ANC 6B’s full commission meeting on Feb. 11. Here are the highlights:

• The commission voted unanimously to support a parking space size variance and roof line height special exception for a proposed 41-unit condo building at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. The Board of Zoning Adjustment is scheduled to hear the 1500 Penn Ave SE case on Tues., Feb. 25.
• ANC 6B also voted unanimously to renew the Hill East and Outreach & Constituent Services Task Force. Both task forces will sunset in Feb. 2015.  Commissioner Brian Pate (6B05) was elected as chair of the O&CS task force while I was elected as chair of the Hill East Task Force. I’m grateful to my commission colleagues for allowing me to serve another year as chair of the HE task force.
• Commissioners Francis Campbell (6B10), Sara Loveland (6B07) and Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04) were elected chairs of the Planning and Zoning, Alcoholic Beverage Control Committees. Congrats to all three commissioners, each of whom have dedicated significant time and effort to their committee work.
• Mostly current and a couple of new resident members were reappointed to ANC 6B committees and task forces. I’d like to thank all of the residents from 6B09 who continue to serve as resident members.
• The commission unanimously approved testimony for 10 agency performance oversight hearings. ANC 6B will be testifying at hearings on:
  • Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA)
  • DC Auditor
  • District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
  • Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA)
  • Department of Human Services
  • Metropolitan Police Department
  • Office of Unified Communications (911)
  • DC Public Schools
  • Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions

  I plan to testify on behalf of the commission at the Department of Human Services oversight hearing. View the full DC Council agency oversight hearing schedule (pdf)

• The commission also retroactively approved my Feb. 11 testimony at oversight hearing for the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. My testimony focused on Reservation 13 and the Hine redevelopment.
• ANC 6B voted unanimously to oppose B20-563, the District of Columbia Sports and Entertainment Complex Feasibility Study Act of 2013. The DC Council Committee on Economic Development is holding a Feb. 25 hearing on the bill and I plan to testify in opposition.
• The commission voted 8-0 to send a letter to Mayor Gray outlining our views on what should be priorities in his FY15 budget. ANC 6B believes that the Mayor’s top priority should be school funding, though the letter also encourages the city to fund infrastructure costs at Reservation 13 and improvements at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza.
• I reminded attendees that ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will be discussing the city’s plans for the Eastern Branch Building (261 17th Street SE) during a meeting on Tues., Feb. 18, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Ave SE).
• After a somewhat contentious debate, the commission voted 6-2 to send a letter to the District Department of Transportation urging the agency to install a stop sign or signalize the intersection of 8th & D Streets SE.  Some commissioners voiced concern about posting a stop sign on only one side of the street (impacting southbound traffic) would confuse motorists. I was comfortable voting with the majority, particularly after the language about considering a stop sign or traffic signal was added.
• ANC 6B’s March meeting will be on Tues., March 11, 7 pm at the Hill Center.

We had a good turnout (30-40 residents) for ANC 6B’s first meeting of 2014. Here are the highlights:

• The meeting began with the election of officers. I was re-elected for a second term as chair. Commissioner Ivan Frishberg (6B02) was re-elected vice-chair, Commissioner Nichole Opkins (6B06) was elected secretary, Commissioner Brian Pate (6B05) was elected treasurer and Commissioner Phil Peisch (6B03) was elected Parliamentarian. Congratulations to all. I’m extremely grateful to my commission colleagues for their support, and I’m looking forward to a productive 2014.
• The commission voted unanimously (10-0) to send a letter to the District Department of Transportation expressing the commission’s opposition to the agency’s design concepts for the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard Transportation Study. See my separate post with a summary of and link to the full letter.
• The commission also voted unanimously to support a use variance to allow the operation of a coffee shop/cafe in the first floor of 1247 E Street SE, an apartment building across from Watkins field. The building was originally designed for commercial use on the first floor but at some point was rezoned residential. It will be nice to have an additional coffee shop/cafe nearby!
• Cheryl Morse of the DC Office of the People’s Counsel provided a brief overview of OPC and highlighted a number of the office’s pending cases. OPC represents consumers of natural gas, electric and telephone service in DC. Visit the OPC website for additional information.
• On a 9-1 vote, the commission authorized the chair or a designee to testify at the upcoming Jan. 30 Zoning Regulations Review (ZRR) hearing for ANCs. Commissioner Dave Garrison (6B01) voted to oppose the motion on the grounds that ANC 6B has already testified on the ZRR. I agreed with the majority whom felt that it was important that ANC 6B reiterate its support for the zoning update and encourage the Zoning Commission to act expeditiously. Read ANC 6B’s ZRR position (pdf).
• The commission unanimously voted to support the 2014 Capitol Hill Classic 10K race taking place Sunday, May 18. The race, which benefits the Capitol Hill Cluster School, will run through a portion of ANC 6B. You can learn more and register on the Capitol Hill Classic website.
• ANC 6B’s February meeting will be on Tues., Feb. 11, 7 pm at the Hill Center.

Due to the Dec. 10 weather-related closure of the DC government, ANC 6B held its rescheduled regular monthly meeting on Dec. 16. The commission had a relatively light agenda. Here are the highlights:

• The commission voted unanimously to send a letter (pdf) to Events DC urging the agency to seek community feedback in its study of future uses for the RFK Stadium site. Events DC, which has been asked by Mayor Gray to study future uses, has posted a Request for Expressions of Interest seeking a consultant to conduct the study. Sending a letter to the agency was recommended by ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force.
• Responding to a request by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), the commission voted 5-0 (with 3 abstentions) to support the ability of Frager’s to continue its temporary garden center on the concrete pad across from Eastern Market.
• The commission voted unanimously to support a resolution (pdf) on the use of “Flexi-Pave” material to repair sidewalks in southeast Capitol Hill. The District Department of Transportation has started using Flexi-Pave material to repair sidewalks frequently damaged by tree roots. A section of the sidewalk on the 300 block of 7th Street SE has already been repaired using Flexi-Pave.
• The commission voted unanimously to support the liquor license renewal for Cava Restaurant (527-529 8th Street SE) and to support striking a provision in Pennsylvania Avenue Market’s (1501 Pennsylvania Ave SE) current settlement agreement that prohibits the sale of two-packs and three-packs of beer. On Penn Ave Market, the commission voted to strike the provision because the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has ruled a ban on two and three packs is not enforceable.
• The commission voted 7-0 to send a letter (pdf) to DDOT urging the agency to perform a full depth reconstruction of the alley behind the west side of the 500 block of 8th Street SE (Barracks Row). The alley is in extremely poor shape and is frequently used by commercial delivery and garbage trucks.
• Since the Zoning Commission scheduled an additional Zoning Regulations Review hearing (pdf) just for ANCs on Jan. 30, 2014, the commission voted unanimously to allow a commissioner to testify on ANC 6B’s position at the hearing.
• The commission voted unanimously to send a letter to the DC Parks and Recreation Department reaffirming ANC 6B’s support to the Park Partnership for the Kim Brenegar Memorial Garden at 8th Street SE and North Carolina Avenue SE.
• ANC 6B’s January meeting will be on Tues., Jan. 14, 7 pm at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

Due to the weather-related closure of the DC government, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B meeting scheduled for today, Tuesday, December 10, 2013, has been cancelled and rescheduled for Monday, December 16, 2013, 7:00 PM, The Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. You can view the Dec. 16 agenda on the ANC 6B website.