Brian Flahaven

Around 40 residents attended the May 8 ANC 6B meeting at the Hill Center. Here are the highlights:

• On a unanimous 9-0 vote, ANC 6B supported Metropolitan Wellness Center’s application to open a medical marijuana dispensary at 409 8th Street SE. MWC provided thorough answers to all of the commission’s questions and nearby neighbors expressed support for the dispensary. Ultimately, approval of the dispensary application is up to the DC Department of Health.
• During the Hill East Task Force report, I announced that ANC 6B would hold a May 15 Special Call Meeting on Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront from 7-8:30 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Avenue SE). I also talked about the Eastern Branch Building Open House and thanked the Mayor’s Office, the DC Department of General Services and Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells’ office for helping to make the open house possible.
• ANC 6B voted 9-0 to support a variance request by Frager’s Hardware that will allow the store to use the R-4 portion of two lots (one owned by Frager’s and the other by an adjacent property) for the outdoor display, storage and sale of seasonal merchandise. The commission asked that the Board of Zoning Adjustment restrict the variance to use by a hardware store. Frager’s and nearby neighbors signed an agreement that covers use of the property and measures to address community concerns.
• Twanna Spurgeon of Howard University Cancer Center’s Women of Promise Ambassador Program shared information about the program, which provides breast cancer information and awareness information and resources to women in the Washington, DC metro area. Ambassadors participate in a brief training and commit to informing family, friends and peers about breast cancer and the importance of screening. To learn more, contact Ms. Spurgeon at twanna.spurgeon@howard.edu or 202-806-5721.
• The commission voted 9-0 to protest the liquor license renewal request of S&J Liquors (1500 Massachusetts Avenue SE) after the owner refused to sign a voluntary agreement with the commission banning sales of two packs and three packs of beer. ANC 6B also voted 8-1 to protest World Liquors (1453 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) for the same reason, though the owner of World Liquors plans to apply for a single sales exemption in the next month.
• Sidewalk cafe permit requests by the owners of Le Pain Quotidien (666 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) and Pacifico (514 8th Street SE) were approved by the commission.
• ANC 6B voted 9-0 to send a resolution to the DC Council to oppose Mayor Gray’s FY13 budget proposal to redirect Performance Parking Pilot funds to uses other than those set forth in the original pilot program statute. ANC 6B includes a number of streets included in the performance parking pilot program and the commission feels strongly that those funds should be used for projects that benefit Capitol Hill.
• Commissioner Brian Pate (6B05), chair of the ANC 6B Outreach & Constituent Services Task Force, announced that the Wed., May 23 task force meeting will feature a discussion of vacant properties with DCRA. The meeting will begin at 7 pm in the Frager’s Conference Room at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). I plan to do an inventory of vacant properties in 6B09 prior to the meeting.
• The commission voted 6-1-2 to support sending a resolution to the DC Council asking the Council to fully fund the Ward 6 Middle Schools program and school librarians and libraries in the FY13 budget.
• ANC 6B’s June meeting will be on  Tuesday, June 12, 7 pm at the Hill Center.