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

ANC 6B January Meeting Recap

January 21, 2014

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.

Leave a Comment » | ANC 6B | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B Urges DDOT to Reconsider Plans for Barney Circle-SE Boulevard

January 16, 2014

During its Jan. 14 meeting, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B voted unanimously (10-0) to send a letter (pdf) to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) expressing the commission’s opposition to the agency’s proposed design concepts for the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard Transportation Planning Study. DDOT is currently seeking public comments on the study, which envisions the construction of a full traffic circle at Barney Circle SE and a new “Southeast Boulevard” to connect the circle to the Southeast/Southwest Freeway at 11th Street SE.

In the letter, ANC 6B points out a number of flaws with the Barney Circle and the Southeast Boulevard design concepts and options presented by DDOT at its Nov. 21, 2013 public meeting. Specifically, the commission:

  • rejects DDOT’s proposed 4-lane SE Boulevard with parking lots and no connections to the existing street grid;
  • opposes the inclusion of a multi-modal parking facility in any form;
  • opposes Barney Circle Option 2 and has concerns about many aspects of Barney Circle Option;
  • feels the study suffers from a lack of neighborhood planning and involvement by DDOT with its Anacostia Waterfront Initiative partners the DC Office of Planning, the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development, and the DC Department of the Environment; and
  • questions the sufficiency of DDOT’s traffic planning scope and assumptions.

Read the full ANC 6B Letter to DDOT on Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard Study (pdf)

A big thanks to all who submitted comments and feedback to ANC 6B or copied me and other commissioners on comments sent directly to DDOT. I’m particularly appreciative of the comments I received on the Barney Circle options from residents living on 16th, 17th, Kentucky Ave and H Streets SE. Hopefully, DDOT will listen to our concerns and reconsider their design concepts.

Also, thanks to Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04), ANC 6B’s Transportation Committee Chair, who assembled the comments and drafted the bulk of the letter.

If you have not already done so, I encourage you to e-mail your comments and feedback directly to DDOT at barneycircle@prrbiz.com.

2 Comments | 17th Street SE, Barney Circle, Penn East, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B Draft Comments on DDOT’s Barney Circle-SE Boulevard Project

January 9, 2014

On Jan. 8, ANC 6B’s Transportation Committee discussed a draft of the commission’s formal comments to the District Department of Transportation on their proposed design concepts for the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard Project. Here is a link to the draft comments discussed at the meeting:

The committee recommended a number of clarifying changes to the comments including the addition of an opening sentence that conveys the commission’s  opposition to the design concepts presented to the community on Nov. 21, 2013. The committee also wanted to make it clear that other stakeholders besides DDOT need to be brought into the project discussion. ANC 6B will vote on the revised comments during next Tuesday’s (Jan. 14) full commission meeting (7 pm at the Hill Center).

Please post your feedback on the draft comments below. You can also share your thoughts with me during my office hours this Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 pm – 3 pm at Curbside Cafe (257 15th Street SE).

1 Comment | Barney Circle, Penn East, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Tuesday Quick Takes: Barney Circle-SE Blvd, Penn Ave Projects, NSO, Office Hours

January 7, 2014
  • On Wed., Jan. 8, ANC 6B’s Transportation Committee will be discussing the commission’s formal comments to the District Department of Transportation on the proposed design concepts for the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard project from 6:30 – 8:00 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). If you have not yet had a chance to weigh in on this important project, please attend the committee meeting or send your comments directly to DDOT at barneycircle@prrbiz.com. Thanks to all who have already attended meetings and/or sent comments.
  • Construction on the two-story commercial building at 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE is almost complete. Douglas Development plans to finish the building this month. Still no word on potential tenants, though Douglas hopes to have some news to share soon.
  • Goldstar Group is seeking a parking variance for their proposed 41-unit residential building at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Goldstar plans to provide the required parking for the building (21 spaces) but needs to include 8 compact spaces. Under the current DC zoning code, compact spaces can only be counted in garages that have more than 25 parking spaces. The Board of Zoning Adjustment will consider Goldstar’s variance request at a hearing on Feb. 25. ANC 6B will consider the variance request during our February meetings – the Feb. 3 ANC 6B Planning & Zoning Committee meeting and the Feb. 10 full commission meeting. I’ll share more information later this month.
  • NOVO Development group plans to begin construction on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE sometime in February. I’m working to schedule a community meeting to discuss construction, etc. with nearby neighbors.
  • This week, the National Symphony Orchestra will be holding a series of free concerts around Capitol Hill and H Street NE, including a chamber music concert on Sunday, Jan. 12, 12 pm – 1 pm at the Congressional Cemetery Chapel (1801 E Street SE). The events are part of the “NSO in Your Neighborhood Program” which runs from Jan. 7-13. You can learn more about the program and view a full schedule on the NSO website.
  • After attending the concert, stop by my office hours on Sunday, Jan. 12 from 2 pm – 3 pm at Curbside Cafe (257 15th Street SE). No formal agenda – just an opportunity for you to share feedback, questions and concerns with me.

Leave a Comment » | Barney Circle, Congressional Cemetery, Penn East, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

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