Lauren President's Letter to ANC, March 23, 2000
	THE LAUREN, A CONDOMINIUM 1301 TWENTIETH STREET, N.W WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 (202) 659-9483 March 23, 2000 Mr. Kyle Pitsor Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC2B) Government of the District of Columbia P.O. Box 33224 Washington, D.C. 20033 Dear Mr. Chairman and Members of the Commission: On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Lauren, A Condominium, I wish to protest the lack of direct, advanced notice to the owners and residents of the Lauren Condominium that the ANC would discuss and announce a major policy change affecting the Lauren, both as a homeowner's association and as individual unit owners and residents. I refer to the decision at the February 9, 2000, meeting that the ANC will support applications for SP-2 variance on the first and second floor of our building but will be opposed to such variances on the other floors. The Lauren and majority of its owners did not receive any specific notification of this important discussion. A small agenda apparently was taped somewhere near the building but this seems woefully inadequate, given the nature and potential implications for our building of this new policy. Worse, the agenda did NOT indicate that a policy was being discussed. It only indicated that an individual request was to be considered. Due to this lack of appropriate notice, most owners, residents and other interested parties did not have an opportunity participate and to make their positions known on an issue directly related to their quality of life and the property values in the building. It is difficult to understand why the ANC did not attempt to give direct advanced notice of a policy discussion to Lauren owners, residents and other interested parties. The ANC must be well aware that the issue of certificates of occupancy for businesses in the Lauren has been of continuing interest and concern to the Lauren, its owners, and to neighboring condominiums for over a decade. In the absence of notice, there was no opportunity for residents and owners to discuss tile issues, much less express their views to the ANC. We urge you to revisit this issue of what principles should govern the granting of granting of Certificates of Occupancy within our building and give all the owners and residents of the Lauren a chance to comment on the policy. In the future, please email (thelauren@juno.com) or fax (202-466-8987) us all notices of meetings. Sincerely, Elizabeth VanderPutten President Board of Directors CC: Sheila Cross Reid, Chair Board of Zoning Adjustment