Brian Flahaven

On Tues., Jan. 8, around 40 residents attended the first ANC 6B meeting of the new year. This was also the first meeting for new Commissioners Nichole Opkins (6B06), Sara Loveland (6B07), Chander Jayaraman (6B08) and Phil Peisch (6B03).

Here is a brief recap:

• The meeting began with the election of officers. I was elected commission chair for 2013. Commissioner Ivan Frishberg (6B02) was elected vice-chair, Commissioner Phil Peisch (6B03) was elected secretary, Commissioner Brian Pate (6B05) was elected treasurer and Commissioner Nichole Opkins was elected Parliamentarian. I’m extremely grateful to my commission colleagues for their support, and I’m looking forward to a productive year for the commission.
• As required, commissioners approved standing rules (9-1) and the 2013 meeting schedule (10-0). The Commission also scheduled a special call meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 22 to conduct a comprehensive review of the standing rules. The special call meeting location will be announced shortly.  
• Stephen Flippin and Officer Andrew Ford of CSX Railroad announced the opening of a community outreach office for the planned reconstruction of the CSX Virginia Avenue Tunnel between 2nd Street SE and 11th Street SE.  The office, located at 861 New Jersey Avenue SE, will remain open through the entire three-year project and will be the company’s primary point of outreach for the community. The office will also be the headquarters of up to three CSX police officers. You can read more about the project on the Virginia Avenue Tunnel website. 
• The Commission unanimously supported parking and lot occupancy variances for a proposed three unit residential building on the vacant lot at 1311 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (next to Mangialardo’s).
• The Commission voted 8-0-2 to support MedStar Health’s applications for certificates of need to the DC Department of Health to establish a primary care physicians’ and urgent care practice on the first floor of the National Association of Home Health Care and Hospice Building (228 7th Street SE). Commissioners Dave Garrison (6B01) and Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04) voiced support for the facilities but argued that the commission did not have the technical expertise to determine if there was a need for such a practice on the Hill. I agreed with the majority of my colleagues that there is certainly a need for primary care physicians and urgent care on Capitol Hill and that the commission should not unnecessarily limit our voice when asked by a DC agency for our opinion. 
• During community speakout, residents of the 300 block of 7th Street SE expressed concern that Chipotle (415 8th Street SE) was violating the terms of its agreement with the neighborhood. Back in 2011, ANC 6B voted unanimously to support a special exception for the restaurant contingent on a signed agreement covering noise, trash and other nuisance issues (fast food establishments are typically not allowed on Barracks Row). Residents are concerned about noise and trash issues and an inability to get Chipotle, or building owner Street Sense, to resolve the issues. The commission will likely consider the issue and whether to formally alert the Board of Zoning Adjustment of the agreement violations in February.
• After changes were made to the parade route, the commission unanimously supported the 2013 Tour de Fat Bicycle Parade taking place Saturday, June 1. The bicycle parade, which supports the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), will begin at Yards Park and weave through portions of Capitol Hill.
• I announced that DDOT would hold a public meeting on the Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue intersection project on Thursday, Jan. 31. Location to be determined. DDOT also plans to hold a public meeting on the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard project in late February. I’ve posted some background information about both projects.
• ANC 6B’s February meeting will be on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 7:00 pm at the Hill Center.

On Tuesday evening, ANC 6B held its final full commission meeting of 2012. It was also the final meeting for Commissioners Jared Critchfield (6B06), Neil Glick (6B08), Carol Green (6B07) and Norman Metzger (6B03). At the end of the meeting, I introduced a resolution (pdf) on behalf of my colleagues thanking the four departing commissioners for their service on the commission and commitment to Capitol Hill. I will certainly miss serving with Jared, Neil, Carol and Norm and have enjoyed working with each of them.

Here is a recap of other major actions:

• After a lengthy discussion, the commission voted 8-1-1 to support a raze permit for the vacant commercial building at 401-403 15th Street SE. The developer plans to build a five-story residential building at the site and hope to begin construction in March/April of 2013. Unfortunately, the developer has abandoned plans to include first floor retail in the building.  They also do not anticipate having to come back in front of the commission with variance or special exception requests.
• I voted to support the raze permit despite my disappointment that the developer has been unwilling to share construction plans with the community and surrounding neighbors. When I asked Sheldon Jones of Goodeon Kingston why he requested that the commission keep the plans confidential, he replied that the plans were in the concept stage, likely to change and expressed concern that competitors would be able to view the plans/design. In response, I said that developers share initial construction plans/concepts with surrounding neighbors all the time and specifically pointed to the commission’s experience with the old KFC site (Goodeon Kingston is actually using the same architect that designed the mixed-use  retail/residential building that Douglas Development proposed and then withdrew for the old KFC site). Mr. Jones did commit to holding two public meetings with the community in January and said that the company would incorporate the comments/views of surrounding community in the plans. Given this commitment and the reality that the current vacant structure is not adding any value to the neighborhood, I warily voted to support the permit.
• Soumya Dey and James Cheeks from the District Department of Transportation discussed the agency’s rationale for installing a traffic signal at 10th and Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Apparently, a request made by a resident years ago triggered a DDOT signal warrant analysis for the intersection. The results of the analysis led DDOT to decide to install a signal at the intersection. The ANC and community first learned of the new signal when installation began earlier this year. According to Mr. Cheeks, DDOT has now added an ANC notification and community outreach component to the process and will ask for ANC input in the future. Commissioners expressed frustration at the lack of community outreach and noted DDOT’s lack of action on commission requests for signals at other intersections on Capitol Hill. The commission voted 9-1 to support a resolution (pdf) urging DDOT to seek the views of the commission and community before final design and funding decisions are made on future road/signal projects.
• Following two deadlocked 5-5 votes on competing motions, the commission ultimately voted 7-3 to take no position on a proposed rooftop addition to a rowhouse at  426 11th Street SE. After commissioners voiced concern about views of the addition from public space, the owner revised his plans and lowered the roof line. Despite these changes, a small portion of the roof can still be seen from public space.  The commission will likely see this case again – both the Historic Preservation Office staff and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society are set to oppose the rooftop addition in front of the Historic Preservation Review Board.
• On an 8-1 vote, the commission approved a resolution (pdf) urging DDOT to replace the pedestrian activated signals with fixed-time signals at the intersections of 8th & E and 8th & G Streets SE on Barracks Row. If implemented, fixed-time signals would automatically display the walk signal at these busy pedestrian intersections.
• On an 9-0-1 vote, the commission voted to support a new liquor license application for Rose’s Luxury, a new restaurant coming to 717 8th Street SE on Barrack’s Row.
• I provided a brief report on the Hill East Task Force’s November 26 meeting on Reservation 13 development. Bidding development teams will likely present their development plans for parcels F1 & G1 to the commission in February 2013.
• The next ANC 6B meeting will be on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, 7 pm at the Hill Center. This will be the first full commission meeting for four new commissioners – Chander Jayaraman (6B08), Sara Loveland (6B07), Nichole Opkins (6B06) and Phil Peisch (6B03).