Below is a summary of the actions taken by the Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 2B) at the November 20, 2002, Regular Meeting. Please note that this summary does not constitute an official record of the meeting. Contact the Staff Coordinator or appropriate Commissioner for additional information.
 
November 20, 2002 - Regular Meeting

-- General Announcements:  The following general announcements were made at the November meeting. 

(1) The Chair invited those who were elected to ANC 2B in November’s elections to introduce themselves to the audience. Those present who were newly elected were:  Rob Halligan, 2B01; Bob Meehan, 2B03; Darren Bowie, 2B04; Carol Mitten, 2B05; and Ramon Estrada, 2B09.  Re-elected were: Vince Micone, 2B02, and Irv Morgan, 2B07.  Also elected, but not in attendance, were:  Stuart Dwyer, 2B06, and Scott Giese, 2B08.  

(2) ANC 2B voted unanimously to write a letter of commendation thanking Major Henry A. Berberich, of the U.S. Park Police, who was recently promoted.  Major Berberich was an integral part of Operation Gold Coast and worked closely with the ANC. 

(3) The Chair announced that on October 28, the Department of Transportation began work on R Street between 8th Street and Massachusetts Ave., NW.   The work, which entails street resurfacing and curb, gutter, sidewalk, and traffic light improvements, is scheduled to last for 270 days. 

(4) The Chair announced that on November 21, the Office of Planning would hold a public meeting on the Comprehensive Plan with planning professionals from the municipalities of Kansas City, Denver, and Minneapolis. Those present were invited to attend the meeting.  

(5) The Chair announced that those wishing to participate in the DC Neighborhood College, a training program to cultivate neighborhood leaders in sustainable and effective leadership practices, should contact the DC Agenda at (202) 223-2598 for additional information about the next session of workshops, which will begin in January.  

(6) Heather Brophy introduced herself as the new Neighborhood Transportation Planner for Ward 2.  She said that she is looking forward to working closely with the neighborhood on transportation related issues.  She can be contacted at (202) 671-2227 and at Heather.Brophy@dc.gov.

Agenda Items

-- Update on a Zoning Application by William Bass; 1629 21st St., NW; Special Exception to Establish an Art Gallery in an Existing Apartment Building:  Though the Commission already heard this case previously, there had been a sufficient activity related to the application to merit an update. Both the applicant and the protestants were given time for presentations.  A motion was made to reconsider ANC 2B’s opposition to the application, but the motion failed.  ANC 2B remains in opposition to the requested zoning exception.  (2B02)

-- Request for a Stop Sign on New Hampshire Ave. and Ward Court, NW:  Paul Warner, of Warner Communication News, requested that a stop sign be placed on New Hampshire Ave., NW, at Ward Court, due to pedestrian crossings at that mid-block location.  As there are existing pedestrian walkways at traffic lights in close proximity and as New Hampshire Ave. is a major traffic artery, ANC 2B voted unanimously to oppose this request.  (2B06)

-- Request to Move a Bus Shelter at 22nd and P Sts., NW:  Deborah Brissman, of the Westpark Tenant Association, and local business owners described the high concentration of bus traffic on P St. at the intersection of 22nd St., the concomitant noise pollution from the buses, and loitering at the bus shelter during evening hours.  They requested that the bus shelter be moved from its current location to another nearby location(s) to lessen the impact on this corner.  ANC 2B voted unanimously to write a letter to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Department of Transportation to ask that the shelter be moved to a location more conducive for the smooth flow of traffic and better positioned for effective use and policing of the shelter.  The Chair noted that the intent is not to remove the shelter, but rather to move it to a nearby location.  (2B02)

-- Zoning Application by the German Marshall Fund of the United States; 1742 R St., NW; Special Exception to Construct an Addition to a Building for Office Use:  Myles Nienstadt, Director of Finance and Administration of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, explained the history of the Fund and the proposed additions to the rear of the building.  ANC 2B voted unanimously to support the application, with the stipulation that the applicant will not remove any existing residential parking spaces during construction.  (2B03)

-- ABC Substantial Change Application by Tequila Grill; CR; 1990 K St., NW; Sidewalk Café with Seating Capacity of 25:  The applicant was not present, but had been invited to the November meeting to present their case. ANC 2B voted to oppose this application at its October meeting, as the applicant did not attend that meeting. (2B07)

-- New ABC Application by The Melting Pot; CR; 1220 19th St., NW; Restaurant with Recorded Music and a Summer Garden; Hours - Sunday-Thursday, 5-11 pm, & Friday-Saturday, 5pm-midnight:  Barry Berkowitz gave a history of the franchise and explained how the proposed establishment would replace a previously existing restaurant.  ANC 2B voted unanimously to support the application.  (2B07)

-- Public Space Applications by Governor’s House, 1615 Rhode Island Ave., NW; for Unenclosed and Enclosed Sidewalk Cafés:  Jay Haddock Ortiz and Larry Lipnick provided an overview of the proposed sidewalk cafés planned as part of an expansion of The Governor’s House Hotel.  ANC 2B previously supported a BZA application related to this expansion and hotel representatives have regularly updated the Commission on the progress of the project.  ANC 2B voted unanimously to support the applications.  (2B05)

-- Commission Administrative Matters, Commissioner Reports, Old Business, New Business, and Public Forum:  The Commission took action on the following administrative matters.  (1) Commissioner Chaplain reported that there had been complaints concerning Visions, and she would like to invite the managers of the establishment to the next meeting.  (2) Commissioner Chaplain announced that the Department of Transportation had ordered the “stop here at red” sign that was requested for 18th and Corcoran Streets, NW.  This signage was removed during sidewalk repairs and was not replaced.   (3) Commissioner Chaplain reported that the old 2B01 newsletter box was still lying defunct at 18th and S Sts., NW.  The ANC has requested that the city remove it and will follow-up further ion this matter.  

Next Meeting

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2B generally meets on the second Wednesday of each month. There is an open forum at each meeting for discussion of issues not on the regular agenda.  For further information, call (202) 296-7333 or contact email@DupontCircleANC.net.  

The next regular meeting of ANC 2B will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2002; 7:30 p.m.; St. Thomas Parish; 1772 Church St., NW.

ANC 2B Commissioner Information
2B01 - Norma Zane Chaplain, 234-2880, Norma.Chaplain@DupontCircleANC.net
2B02 - Vince Micone (Chair), 607-8429, Vince.Micone@DupontCircleANC.net
2B03 - David Jolliffe, 518-7844, David.Jolliffe@DupontCircleANC.net
2B04 - Jeff Hopp (Treasurer), 332-8508, Jeff.Hopp@DupontCircleANC.net
2B05 - vacant, contact Jeff Hopp (2B04)
2B06 - Marilyn Newton (Secretary), 833-1344, Marilyn.Newton@DupontCircleANC.net
2B07 - Irv Morgan (Vice Chair), 265-8575, Irv.Morgan@DupontCircleANC.net
Staff Coordinator - Brian Piech, 296-7333, staff@DupontCircleANC.net