Brian Flahaven

We had a big crowd – around 50-75 residents – at the ANC 6B meeting last night at St. Coletta. Many attendees came to voice concerns about two issues 1) ANC redistricting and 2) a special exception request by the Community Action Group (CAG) related to their property at 124 15th Street SE. Here is a brief recap of major commission actions:

• The commission unanimously approved a parking variance and special exception request for 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, the old KFC site. A big thanks to the neighbors and Douglas Development for all of the community meetings and discussions.
• During the community speakout, Ksenia Kaladiouk announced that the Friends of the 13th Street Community Park & Garden is holding a yard sale and fundraiser on Saturday, October 8. You can learn more at www.13thstreetgarden.org.
• After a lengthy debate and discussion, ANC 6B voted 8-1 to approve an ANC redistricting resolution that conveys the commission’s strong support for the status quo plan adopted by the Ward 6 Redistricting Task Force. The resolution also states ANC 6B’s clear opposition to an ANC 6C proposal to move area in the western part of 6B to 6C.
• The commission voted 7-2 to remove language from the resolution that expressed ANC 6B’s disappointment that Near Southeast (Navy Yard, Nationals Park) was not added to ANC 6B. I was in the minority on this vote. While adding Near Southeast would make 6B a large, potentially unwieldy 12 member commission, I feel very strongly that the views of Near Southeast residents, who overwhelmingly want to be a part of 6B, should not be ignored. And the language did not say that the commission planned to fight on for Near Southeast…it just expressed our disappointment. However, a majority of the commission decided that the resolution should remain silent on the issue.
• The adopted redistricting resolution also suggests that the proposed northern border for 6B09 extend along Massachusetts Avenue SE from 15th St. SE to 19th St. SE. This change would add the northern side of the 1800 block of D St. SE and the southern side of the 1800 block of Massachusetts Ave. SE into 6B09.
• Ward 6 Redistricting Task Force members attended the meeting to hear input from the commission. Joe Fengler, Cody Rice, Antonette Russell, Ken Jarboe and the other members of the task force deserve a great deal of credit for the time, effort they’ve put into the redistricting process.
• I announced that the next ANC 6B Hill East Task Force meeting will take place Wednesday, Sept. 28, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at Payne Elementary School, 1445 C Street SE. The topic will be an update on the Eastern Branch Boys & Girls Club building, located at 17th St. SE and C St. SE. More details to come on this meeting.
• On an 8-0-1 vote, the commission approved a slate of new resident members to serve on ANC 6B committees and task forces. The following residents were approved from 6B09:
  • Planning & Zoning Committee – Ksenia Kaladiouk
  • Transportation Committee – Keith Smith (former 6B09 commissioner)
  • Hill East Task Force – Kate Wall
  • Outreach & Constituent Services Task Force – Darren Cole and Evan McCarthy

  Thanks to Ksenia, Kate, Keith, Darren and Evan for volunteering their time to represent our neighborhood.

• A number of residents showed up to voice support for and opposition to a request by CAG for a special exception related to their property at 124 15th Street SE. The case itself is pretty straightforward – CAG needs a parking special exception in order to begin construction of their new building. However, a number of residents voiced concern about parking and noise issues they’ve had with CAG in the past and asked the commission to postpone a vote on the case until October. Complicating matters was the absence of Chair Neil Glick due to illness. Commissioner Glick has been working with CAG and concerned residents to draft a memorandum of understanding. After hearing from attendees, the commission ultimately voted to support the CAG special exception with the expectation that CAG and the neighbors will reach an agreement on the MOU.
• Commissioner Brian Pate (6B05) announced that Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells will soon introduce legislation creating a new governing structure for Eastern Market. ANC 6B will likely hold a special call meeting in October to learn more about the proposed legislation and to hear comments from the community.
• The next ANC 6B meeting will be on Tuesday, October 11.

ANC 6B’s September meeting is tonight (Tues., Sept. 13), 7:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue SE. The agenda includes three items of particular interest to our neighborhood:

1. The commission will be voting on Douglas Development’s application for a parking variance and a roof requirement special exception at 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, the old KFC site. The case is currently on the consent agenda but can be removed by any commissioner. Attendees will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed plans during the community speakout portion of the agenda.
2. Representatives from the Ward 6 Redistricting Task Force will be in attendance to get the commission’s feedback on their draft redistricting plan and on an ANC 6C proposal to move the western portion of ANC 6B into ANC 6C. I plan to voice my opposition to 6C’s proposal, which would lead to a dramatic re-drawing of the single member district boundaries in Hill East. You can read more on the task force blog.
3. I’ll provide a brief update on the July 27th Hill East Task Force meeting.

The commission will also vote on approving resident members to ANC 6B committees and task forces. Many thanks to Ksenia, Kate, Keith, Darren and Evan for volunteering to represent 6B09.

Hope to see you tonight!

An electronic speed display sign on Mt. Olivet Road NE. I'd like to see one of these on 17th Street SE.

Last week, the Metropolitan Police Department announced the deployment of 19 new speed cameras at locations across the city. I was pleased to see that two of the new cameras will be deployed in Hill East – one on the 1900 block of Independence Avenue SE and the other on the 200 block of 19th Street SE. Independence Ave. and 19th Street see heavy commuter traffic and speeding. Hopefully, the new cameras will slow vehicles down.

Notably absent from the list is 17th Street SE (a.k.a. “the speedway”), the other heavily trafficked commuter corridor in our neighbor. Cars frequently speed down 17th Street between East Capitol St.  and Barney Circle with only two stoplights (Mass Ave. and Potomac Ave.) to slow them down. Making matters worse, drivers crossing Mass Ave. can see the Potomac Ave. stoplight and tend to speed up to avoid the red light. Drivers also frequently turn on to E St. SE and D St. SE when the light at Potomac is red, turning narrow side streets into dangerous commuter thoroughfares.

When I’ve asked MPD to help with the speeding problem, they’ve been responsive. Earlier this year, MPD placed their roving electronic speed display at the corner of 17th St. SE and C St. SE. The display made a difference – vehicles noticeably reduced their speed as they approached the sign. But the problem returned once the sign was removed. MPD has also periodically set up speed traps and placed rumble strips along the route.

But these are temporary fixes to a permanent problem. A speed camera on 17th St. could provide a longer-term solution.  When I’ve asked MPD to either permanently place a speed camera on 17th St. SE or rotate a speed camera between 17th St. SE, 19th St. SE and Independence Ave. SE, I’ve been told that MPD studied the option and determined that the corridor lacks a safe location for the speed camera vehicle. Why not consider a fixed camera mounted on a pole? There must be a way for a camera to be deployed somewhere within the 7 blocks between East Capitol St. and Barney Circle.

I’ve also asked the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to place a permanent electronic speed display sign between Mass Ave. SE and Potomac Ave. SE. While the sign would not issue citations, it would help slow traffic down. DDOT has said they will consider the request after they gather data. Note that since 17th St.  is an evacuation route, DDOT can not install other traffic calming measures like speed humps.

Bottom line – something needs to be done before someone is seriously injured or killed. I’ve formally asked MPD to once again consider deploying a speed camera on 17th Street. I’ll also continue working with DDOT on appropriate traffic calming measures for the corridor. I’m hopeful that we will see some progress on this issue in the coming months.

ANC 6B’s Planning & Zoning Committee will be discussing and making a recommendation tonight (Tues, Sept. 6) on Douglas Development’s proposed plans for the old KFC site, 1442 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue SE. Here are the updated plans:

• Douglas Development Plans for 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (September 2011)

As I mentioned in my previous post, DDOT is opposed to Douglas using the existing curb cut on 15th St. SE for parking. The updated rendering removes the curb cut and adds access to parking from the alley.

Please stop by tonight and share your views on the proposed development. ANC 6B will also be considering the case at our Sept. 13 full commission meeting.

Please join us tomorrow night, Wed., August 31, 6:30 pm, for a meeting to discuss Douglas Development’s plans for the old KFC site at 1442 Pennsvylvania Avenue SE. The meeting will take place at Wisdom, 1432 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

As I discussed in an earlier post, Douglas Development has plans to build a mixed-use retail/residential building on the site.

View the plans (pdf)

To move ahead, Douglas needs the Board of Zoning Adjustment to grant a parking variance and a special exception on roof requirements. They will be asking for ANC 6B’s support at the Sept. 6 ANC 6B Planning & Zoning Committee meeting and the Sept. 13 ANC 6B Full Commission meeting. Both of these meetings will be at 7:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Ave SE).

The Wed., Aug. 31 meeting is a chance for you to raise any issues or concerns you have about the proposed development. The goal is to see if we can reach a consensus prior to ANC 6B’s consideration of the project.

I hope to see you there!