Brian Flahaven

We had a packed house at ANC 6B’s Nov. 12 meeting at the Hill Center. Here are the meeting highlights:

• A representative from the DC Board of Election’s discussed the board’s election precinct realignment proposal (pdf) and asked for commission and community feedback. In effort to improve efficiency, the board is redrawing precincts to align with ANC Single Member Districts. Under the proposal, all residents in my SMD, 6B09, would vote at Payne Elementary School. The commission voted unanimously to send a letter to the board voicing support for the proposal, urging the board to implement it in time for the 2014 general election and encouraging the board to conduct a major outreach campaign to ensure that voters go to the appropriate polling place (note that the board will not implement the new precincts for the April 1, 2014 primary election).
• After some discussion, the commission voted to approve liquor license renewals for Phase I (525 8th Street SE), Remington’s (639 Penn Ave SE) and Bachelor’s Mill/Back Door Pub (1104 8th Street SE). Each of these establishments agreed to sign settlement agreements with the commission.
• The commission voted unanimously to protest the addition of an entertainment endorsement for Tortilla Coast restaurant based on concerns about noise. Despite evidence of a number of police calls and violations of the terms of their liquor license, the owners of Tortilla Coast have refused to sign a settlement agreement with the ANC. I’m hopeful the commission can address our concerns through the protest process.
• The commission voted 8-0 to send a letter to the Tune Inn (331 Penn Ave SE) expressing our disappointment that the restaurant backed out of signed a settlement agreement with ANC 6B. We spent a significant amount of time at our October meeting amending our standard agreement to address the Tune Inn’s concerns only to learn later that the establishment had decided not to sign the agreement. I do hope the owners of the Tune Inn reconsider their position in the future.
• After the applicant addressed neighbor concerns about rat control and the process by which the building would be demolished , the commission unanimously voted to support a raze permit for 1620 A Street SE. The owner plans to build a 2-unit condo building on the site and will be back in front of ANC 6B next month seeking zoning relief.
• The commission voted unanimously to endorse a comprehensive Public Safety Report (pdf) drafted by the ANC 6B Outreach & Constituent Services Task Force. The purpose of the report is to help provide the commission and residents with a better understanding of public safety issues on Capitol Hill. The report also seeks to provide answers on how the criminal justice system works in DC, how MPD is organized and how residents can help make our neighborhoods safer. Major kudos to my colleagues Commissioner Phil Peisch (6B03) and Brian Pate (6B05) and the other members of the task force for putting together such a valuable resource.
• Commissioner Pate also announced that the commission has a newly redesigned website at www.anc6b.org. While the website is still under construction, residents will be able to find the latest commission agendas and information on the new site. The commission also plans to post all official letters and resolutions on the site.
• Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg, chair of ANC 6B’s Transportation Committee, announced that the District Department of Transportation would be holding its second public meeting on the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard project on Thursday, Nov. 21, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Payne Elementary School (1445 C Street SE).
• I announced that ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force would be holding a Wed., Nov. 13 meeting on the future of the RFK Stadium site. I’ve posted a recap of the meeting.
• ANC 6B’s December meeting will be on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 7:00 pm at the Hill Center.

ANC 6B considered the Office of Planning’s Zoning Regulations Review proposal, potential locations for a new Marine Barracks Washington Bachelor Enlisted Quarters and liquor license renewals for a number of bars and taverns during the commission’s October 8 meeting. Here are the highlights:

• The commission voted 6-3 to send comments (pdf) to the Department of the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps urging the department to focus its site selection for a new Marine Barracks Washington Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) on two sites within the Navy Yard. The department is preparing to develop an Environmental Impact Statement on a number of projects related to MBW, including a new site for the BEQ currently located between I Street SE and the SE-SW Freeway.  ANC 6B also voiced strong objections in the letter to the use of two sites north of the Navy Yard for the BEQ, arguing that these privately-owned properties should remain in the city’s tax base and be privately developed. Michael Stevens, president of the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District, reported that both of the privately-owned sites are being targeted for mixed-use development.
• With the Office of Planning set to present their revised Zoning Regulations Review proposal to the Zoning Commission in November, the commission voted on a number of key provisions (pdf) in OP’s revised proposal. Most of the votes were unanimous with the exception of OP’s parking proposal. The commission voted 7-2 to encourage OP to stick with its original proposal to eliminate parking minimums in residential areas and transit zones. I voted with the majority because the revised policy is as ineffective and inefficient as the current one. Requiring developers to build or provide an arbitrary number of parking spots typically wastes building space and increases the cost of housing. In many instances, developers build parking spots that remain unused because it is much cheaper for tenants to pay $35/year for on-street parking.
• Frustrated by the DC Council’s Oct. 1 vote to delay the election of an Attorney General until 2018, the commission voted 7-1 to send a letter to Mayor Gray urging him to veto the legislation.
• The commission voted 9-0 in support of renewing the liquor license for Wisdom at 1432 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Commissioner Nichole Opkins (6B06) worked with owner Erik Holzherr to update the establishment’s settlement agreement with the commission.
• After a lengthy discussion about noise from dumping bottles, the commission voted 8-0 in support of renewing the liquor license for Tune Inn Restaurant at 331 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.
• I announced that I would be holding a Neighborhood Town Hall meeting on Oct. 10 at the Historic Congressional Cemetery Chapel.
• ANC 6B’s November meeting is on Tues., Nov. 12, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).

On Thursday, October 10, I’ll be hosting a Neighborhood Town Hall meeting from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Historic Congressional Cemetery Chapel (1801 E Street SE). During the meeting, I’ll provide updates on key Hill East projects, including:

• Next Steps on the Reservation 13/Hill East Development
• Penn Avenue Projects (1442, 1500 and 1600 Penn Ave SE)
• 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project
• Major actions by ANC 6B and issues on the horizon

Attendees will also have an opportunity to share concerns about other issues affecting our neighborhood. And it will be a great way to meet and catch up with neighbors.

To attend the meeting, you can enter Congressional Cemetery at the main gate (18th & E Streets SE) or the west gate (17th & H Streets SE).

Hope to see you there! And a big thanks to the folks at Congressional Cemetery for hosting the meeting.

After an August break, ANC 6B re-convened on Tuesday evening for our September full commission meeting. Here are the highlights:

• The commission voted unanimously to send a letter (pdf) to the Federal Highway Administration and the District Department of Transportation with comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Virginia Avenue Tunnel Reconstruction. In the letter, the commission asks the agencies to pursue a hybrid option for the reconstruction of the Virginia Avenue rail tunnel, take steps to ensure that historic properties are protected during reconstruction and pursue a tree-lined linear park that connects Garfield Park and Virginia Avenue Park as a community benefit. Kudos to ANC 6B Transportation Committee Chair Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04) for crafting the commission’s comments.
• The commission voted to send two additional letters to DDOT. The first (pdf) requests additional information on the agency’s intent to install traffic signals on 11th Street SE. The second letter (pdf) requests an extension on expiration date of visitor parking passes.
• A long list of new resident members were unanimously approved, including seven new Hill East Task Force members. A big thanks to Jennifer Howard, Nike Opadiran, Ross Parman and Claudia Vilato for agreeing to represent 6B09 on the Task Force.
• On a 9-0 vote, the commission voted to approve testimony on the status of development at Reservation 13/Hill East. I plan to deliver the testimony at the Council’s Committee on Economic Development’s Sept. 24 hearing on the status of major economic development projects in the city.
• The commission voted 9-0 to support a new liquor license for District Taco (656 Pennsylvania Ave SE) and 8-1 to support the addition of rooftop garden summer garden seating at Rose’s Luxury (717 8th Street SE), a new restaurant opening soon on Barracks Row.
• Concerned about a lack of notice to nearby neighbors, the commission delayed voting on the liquor license renewal for Bearnaise (313-315 Pennsylvania Avenue SE), the new Spike Mendelsohn restaurant that recently opened. The commission is going to take up the license renewal at a special call meeting on Tues., Sept. 24, 8 pm at the Hill Center.
• After discussing concerns about the location of a dumpster and venting issues, the commission voted 5-1-1 to support a special exception to allow hot food service at Southeast Market (1500 Independence Avenue SE). The market currently sells cold sandwiches but wants to expand to hot sandwiches, which requires a fast food exception.
• After a presentation by ANC 6B Treasurer Brian Pate (6B05), the commission unanimously approved a FY14 budget. FY14 will be a transition year for the commission as we work to move away from a traditional staffed office.
• The October ANC 6B meeting will be on Tuesday, October 8, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).