*UPDATED*Hill East Cases on May 13 ANC 6B Agenda

May 13, 2014

ANC 6B will be discussing and voting on a number of Hill East cases during tonight’s full commission meeting, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). Here is a brief rundown:

  • Sidewalk Cafe Application for Curbside Cafe – The owners of Curbside Cafe (257 15th Street SE) are seeking a public space permit to allow outdoor seating at their location. I fully support this application ANC 6B’s Planning & Zoning Committee unanimously recommended approval of the application and it will be on the commission’s consent agenda.
  • Fast Food Special Exception for 1400 Penn Ave SE – The owners of New York Pizza (1401 Pennsylvania Ave SE) are seeking to expand their operation across the street to the vacant commercial space at 1400 Pennsylvania Ave SE. To do so, they need to ask the Board of Zoning Adjustment for a fast food special exception. Assuming the owners can address the trash, delivery and other concerns of nearby neighbors, I’m still puzzled why NY Pizza would seek to operate the same restaurant on both sides of Penn Ave. I hope to get some answers tonight. This case will likely be considered in the 7:45-8:15 pm time frame.
  • Relocation of Women’s Shelter at DC General/Reservation 13 – Due to environmental and safety concerns, the city needs to relocate the Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter from Building 9 to Building 27 on the DC General campus. To allow this to happen, the Office of Planning is asking the Zoning Commission to approve a text amendment (pdf) to the Hill East District zoning (the zoning code that exists for Reservation 13). I’m going to encourage my colleagues to oppose the text amendment and instead urge the Zoning Commission to approve a time-limited special exception to allow the move. I’d also like to see demolition of Building 9 clearly stated in the final order. This case will likely be considered in the 8:45-9:00 pm time frame.
  • Comments on Planned Eastern Branch Building RFO – The commission will consider final comments to the DC Department of General Services on the planned Request for Offers for the Eastern Branch Building (261 17th Street SE). The comments reflect the community feedback ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force heard during our two April community meetings. This case will likely be considered in the 9:00 pm hour.

Updated 5/13/14 1:00 pm – The applicant for the fast food exception for 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue SE has withdrawn the case from tonight’s agenda. This may move up commission consideration of the DC General and Eastern Branch letters.

Leave a Comment » | 15th Street SE, ANC 6B, Development, Eastern Branch Building, Penn East, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Friday Updates: Playtime Project, Vote, Eastern Branch, Barney Circle, 17th & 19th

March 28, 2014
  • As Metropolitan Police Department and FBI continue their search for missing 8-year old Relisha Rudd and her apparent abductor, you can help the other homeless children at DC General by supporting The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project. Relisha is one of the many children living at DC General that benefit from the activities of the Playtime Project, a wonderful nonprofit organization that works to brighten the lives of homeless kids. Consider a donation or purchase a gift off their Amazon wishlist.
  • Next Tuesday, April 1 is primary day in the District of Columbia. If you have a party affiliation, make sure you get out and vote either on April 1 or today and tomorrow at one of the 13 early voting centers. Polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm on April 1. I’m supporting Tommy Wells for Mayor and Charles Allen for Ward 6 Councilmember in the Democratic primary.
  • ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will be holding two community meetings to discuss plans by the DC Department of General Services to issue a Request for Offers for the Eastern Branch Building (261 17th Street SE). The meetings will take place on:
    • Wed., April 9, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Avenue SE)
    • Wed., April 30, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Payne Elementary School (1445 C Street SE)
  • The owners of New York Pizza, located at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, plan to expand their business into the vacant commercial space across the street at 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. To do so, they will need a “fast food” special exception from the Board of Zoning Adjustment. ANC 6B will likely consider the special exception request in May.
  • On Monday, March 31, ANC 6B’s Transportation Committee will discuss the DC Office of Planning’s rapid response planning effort on DDOT’s Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard Project. The goal of the 3-4 month effort is to take a holistic view of potential uses within and surrounding the proposed Southeast Boulevard right of way. The meeting is from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ave SE).
  • Speaking of DDOT, I have some good news to share on the delayed 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project. According to the agency, construction on both streets will take place this year beginning with 19th Street in May. DDOT expects construction on the 17th Street portion of the project to begin in September.

3 Comments | 17th Street SE, 19th Street SE, Development, Election 2014, Penn East, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B March Meeting Recap

March 17, 2014

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.

Leave a Comment » | ANC 6B, Eastern Branch Building, Penn East | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Updated Plans for 1500 Penn Avenue SE

February 6, 2014
Rendering of 41-unit condo building planned for 1500 Penn Ave SE. Produced by Bonstra Haresign Architects.

Rendering of 41-unit condo building planned for 1500 Penn Ave SE. Produced by Bonstra Haresign Architects.

During the Feb. 4 ANC 6B Planning and Zoning Committee meeting, Eric May of the Goldstar Group shared updated renderings of their proposed 41-unit condo building at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. The drawings include the layout of the underground parking garage, a garage which will include 21 spaces. Goldstar is seeking a variance on parking space size requirements, seeking to count 8 compact spaces towards the 21 space minimum requirement.

May also asked the committee to weigh in on an additional variance request related to the height of the penthouse. The variance will allow the rooftop penthouse to have varying height instead of uniform height.

The committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full commission support both variance requests and the raze permit for the project. ANC 6B will vote on the committee recommendation during the commission’s Tues., Feb. 10 meeting, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ave SE). Meeting attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions/provide comments on the requests. If you can’t attend the meeting, please share your comments with me directly or post below.

1 Comment | 15th Street SE, Barney Circle, Development, Penn East | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B To Consider Variance Request for 1500 Penn Ave SE

January 31, 2014

In February, ANC 6B will be considering Goldstar Group’s request for a variance from the parking space size requirements for their proposed 41-unit residential building at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (old Domino’s Pizza site).

Goldstar plans to provide the required parking minimum for the building (21 spaces) but needs to include 8 compact spaces in its count. Under the current DC zoning code, compact spaces can only be counted towards the minimum requirements in garages with more than 25 parking spaces. The Board of Zoning Adjustment will consider Goldstar’s variance request at a hearing on Feb. 25.

ANC 6B’s Planning & Zoning Committee will consider the variance request, along with the raze permit for the current building, at its Tuesday, Feb. 4 meeting, 7 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Ave SE). During the committee meeting, Goldstar Group will provide a brief presentation of their plans and explain why they need the parking space size variance. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and weigh in with the committee. Note that 1500 Penn Ave SE is the first case on the committee’s agenda.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to weigh in on the case during ANC 6B’s February 11 meeting, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). The commission will consider the planning & zoning committee’s recommendation and take a formal vote in support or opposition of the request on Feb. 11.

I encourage all interested neighbors and residents to attend the meetings and/or contact me with their concerns. For those who wish to chat with me in person, I’ll be at Curbside Cafe (257 15th Street SE) tomorrow, Sat., Feb. 1 from 11 am – 12 pm.

Leave a Comment » | 15th Street SE, ANC 6B, Barney Circle, Development, Penn East, Potomac Avenue Metro | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

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