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ANC 2B Dupont Circle NEWS
From: Vince Micone <vnm3@rcn.com>
ANC 2B SEPTEMBER MEETING SUMMARYBelow is a summary of the actions taken by the Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 2B) at the September 19, 2001, Regular Meeting. This meeting was rescheduled from September 12, 2001, due to the terrorist attacks. Please note this summary does not constitute an official record of the meeting. Contact the Executive Director or appropriate Commissioner for additional information. September 19, 2001 - Regular Meeting-- General Announcements: The following major general announcements were made at the beginning of the meeting. (1) ANC 2B and the Capital Area Crisis Response Team will sponsor a neighborhood meeting for those impacted by the attacks on September 11th. The program will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, located at 1514 15th Street, NW, on Monday, September 24, 2001, from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, contact CACRT at www.cacrt.org. (2) The Chair commended and thanked Dupont Circle resident Roger Hirschland for his long-term efforts to secure a four-way stop at the intersection of 20th and N Streets, NW. This busy intersection is now safer for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic due to Mr. Hirschland's efforts. -- Public Safety Issues: Lt. Groomes (3rd District) provided an update on the incidence of crime in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Specifically, she described robberies that were occurring in the Dupont east and Logan Circle areas and encouraged those present to be vigilant. Lt. Groomes announced the appointment of a new commander for the Third District, Cheryl Peacock, and new lieutenants for PSAs 307 and 308. The officers addressed questions from those in attendance. It was announced that the next monthly Dupont Circle Public Safety Meeting would be held on October 17, 2001, 7:30 p.m., at the Governor's House Hotel, located at the corner of 17th Street and Rhode Island Avenues, NW. -- Presentation about the Historic Preservation Review Process: This presentation was postponed to a future meeting. -- Flood Damage Assessment and Response by DC Agencies, PEPCO, and WASA: ANC 2B solicited comments from neighbors about the August 4, 2001, floods and sewer backups which impacted the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Among the recommendations were: WASA should establish a process to regularly clean the catchments and sewers; storm drains and sewers should be decoupled; businesses and residents should be educated to do a better job of cleaning gutters at curbside areas near their property to help keep sewer drains clear; and a map of severely impacted streets and blocks should be developed to assist in mitigating the property damage of future floods. Discussion was also held on the impact of insurance limits on drain and sewer backup policies. ANC 2B voted request information from the District's Insurance Commissioner to determine if there are limits imposed by regulation on the amount of drain and sewer backup insurance that can be purchased by property owners. -- Proposed Alley Paving - Alley System Between S, Riggs, 18th and 19th Streets, NW: At the beginning of this discussion, the Chair announced that the Ward 2 Neighborhood Services Coordinator had notified him by email earlier that day that recommendations for alley repaving (in brick or asphalt) and sidewalk repairs or replacements in brick were due from the ANC through him to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) by Friday, September 21. With this in mind, the ANC voted to recommend the following: asphalt & brick alley resurfacing between S/Riggs & 18th/19th; brick alley between N/O & New Hampshire/22nd (2 blocks); asphalt alley between Corcoran/Q & 17th/18th; brick sidewalks on P Street between the P St. Bridge and Dupont Circle (new); brick sidewalks on 17th between P & S (repair brick sidewalk); brick sidewalks on Church Street between Q & 17th (new); and brick sidewalks on O Street between 15th & 16th (return to brick). The Chair noted that this represents the best efforts to identify alleys and sidewalks for repair or replacement with very little notice and is not a comprehensive reflection of needs for alley resurfacing and sidewalk replacement in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. -- Lack of Proper Notice by the Public Space Committee for Approved Actions in ANC 2B: ANC 2B discussed at length shortcomings in the management of the Public Space application process in the District. The discussion was bourn out of frustration due to: lack of notice of Public Space applications; lack of adequate time to review Public Space applications; applications sent to the wrong ANC for review; approval by the Public Space Committee of applications without the required ANC input; lack of notice of the Public Space Committee's meeting location, agenda, and schedule; and lack of citizen input on the Public Space Committee. During the past month alone, ANC 2B was notified by an applicant that their public space permit was approved without ANC input and an applicant indicated that a Deputy Mayor arranged for their use of public space prior to the review process. This particular applicant did not comply with an ANC request to remove the tables and chairs pending the application process. The Public Space Committee has not complied with their agreement of October 3, 2000, to notify ANC 2B of approved actions. Further, during the past year, ANC 2B has held special meetings to assist applicants (local small businesses) in the approval process because their applications "were lost" by the permit center for months. At the conclusion of this discussion, ANC 2B voted to petition that the Public Space Committee develop and follow standard protocols and procedures for the application process and ANC input; the appropriate City Council Committees or administrative agencies review the composition of the Public Space Committee and include citizens among the members; and that the Public Space Committee notify ANCs of approved actions. -- Proposed Public Space Request for an Unenclosed Sidewalk Café for 1710 L St., NW: ANC 2B considered a request for an unenclosed sidewalk café at 1710 L St., NW. The applicant was not present. It was noted that the Public Space Committee had already approved this application without input from ANC 2B. ANC 2B voted unanimously to protest this application pending formal review. (2B07) -- Proposed Public Space Request for an Unenclosed Sidewalk Café for 1200 19th St., NW: ANC 2B considered a request for an unenclosed sidewalk café at 1200 19th St., NW for High Noon. The applicant was not present. It was noted that the applicant had already established the sidewalk café without the input from ANC 2B and a permit. The applicant noted in several telephone conversations that a Deputy Mayor who frequented the establishment had arranged for this unusual approval. ANC 2B voted unanimously to protest this application pending formal review and a presentation by the applicant. (2B07) -- Unapproved Use of Public Space for an Unenclosed Sidewalk Café at 1333 New Hampshire Ave., NW - Located on 19th Street: Baja Fresh opened an unenclosed sidewalk café at its location on 19th Street south of Dupont Circle. The establishment complied with a request to remove the tables and chairs pending the application process. ANC 2B voted unanimously to send a letter to Baja Fresh describing the Public Space application process and ANC 2B's Public Space Guidelines. (2B02) -- BZA Application #16760 by NH Hotel (Jury's) at 1500 New Hampshire Ave., NW, for a Variance from Court Width Requirements: ANC 2B considered a BZA application by Jury's Hotel which would allow the hotel to expand into a court on the side of the building for the purposes of building an ADA-compliant restroom for customers. The proposed construction will be set-back from the sidewalk and landscaping will be placed in front of the expansion to reduce visibility from the sidewalk. After comment and questions, ANC 2B voted to support this application. (2B07) -- BZA Application #16763 by Summit Properties at 900 15th St., NW, for a Variance to Allow Renovation from Office to Mixed Use: ANC 2B considered a BZA application by Summit Properties to allow renovation of the property at 900 15th Street, NW, from office to mixed use. The specific variance in this matter related to court width restrictions. Relief from this regulation will allow the builder to better configure the building for mixed use purposes. After comment and questions, ANC 2B voted unanimously to support this application. (2B05) -- BZA Application #16765 by the American Chemical Society at 1155 16th St., NW, for Special Exceptions and Variances for Office Use: ANC 2B considered a BZA application from the American Chemical Society for certain special exceptions and variances to build an at-grade and below-grade facility for staff use in a courtyard owned by the applicant. Some of the variances are technical in nature, as the building was constructed before the current zoning code and is above the current requirements. After comment and questions, ANC 2B voted unanimously to support this application. (2B05) -- Application for a Planned Unit Development and Air Rights at the Commerce and Riddell Buildings, 1700 and 1730 K St., NW: ANC 2B considered a consolidated application before the Zoning Commission to establish a Planned Unit Development (PUD) and determine rental of air rights at the Commerce and Riddell Buildings, 1700 and 1730 K St., NW. The newly constructed building, if approved, would require additional air space for a portion of the building and would be slightly larger than the current building. As a part of its application, the applicant will provide approximately 16,000 square feet of improved housing (renovated apartments) and will provide additional public amenities at Farragut Square. ANC 2B expressed concern about the construction impacts on pedestrian and vehicular traffic during demolition and rebuilding. After comment and questions, ANC 2B voted to support this application contingent upon the Zoning Commission incorporating into its order a requirement that the applicant contact and work with ANC 2B during the construction phase to mitigate construction impacts on pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the area. (2B07) -- ABC Renewal for California Pizza Kitchen, CR #33479, at 1250 Connecticut Ave., NW: There was no comment by the public on this ABC renewal. ANC 2B took no action. (2B07) -- Commission Administrative Matters: The following administrative matters were approved by ANC 2B. (1) ANC 2B voted to send a letter to DDOT requesting that non-emergency construction permits be prohibited for 21st Street, NW, between Florida and New Hampshire Avenues. This street was resurfaced last year and is subject to the five-year moratorium on non-emergency construction. Several residents have contacted ANC 2B about various vendors marking and measuring the street for fiber-optic cabling, non-emergency gas line upgrades, etc. (2) ANC 2B voted to resubmit recommended boundaries for Single Member Districts in the eastern portion of the Dupont Circle ANC. After the task force completed its preliminary report for submission to Councilmember Evans, it was noted that two seated commissioners were redistricted into one district. If possible, ANC 2B would like to avoid redistricting of two incumbent commissioners into one district. (3) ANC 2B voted to authorize the Vice Chair to draft a letter to the U.S. Park Police to request additional enforcement in the Dupont Circle park. Neighbors and Commissioners have reported an increase in nuisance activities and crimes such public urination, camping, and drug dealing in the park. NEXT MEETINGThe next regular meeting of ANC 2B will be October 10, 2001; 7:30 p.m.; St. Thomas Parish; 1772 Church St., NW.
ANC 2B Commissioner Information
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