Mr. Charles H. Atherton
Secretary
The Commission of Fine Arts
441 F Street, N.W., Suite 312
Washington, D.C. 20001

Re: S.L. 03-038 - Concept Review Application
2800 Chesterfield Place, N.W., Lot 90 Square 2258

Dear Mr. Atherton:

Reference is made to the concept review application filed on behalf of American Masterworks, LLC #1 for 2800 Chesterfield Place, N.W., S.L. 03-038. This application is included on the Commission of Fine Arts'(CFA) agenda for January 16, 2003. It appears that the application is for the replacement of an existing house, even though it is described as an addition and alterations to an existing single family house. The CFA previously considered another proposal for this house and two houses on adjacent lots in S.L. 02-129.

ANC3F at a duly noticed public meeting on January 13, 2003, with a quorum present, considered concept application S.L. 03-038. ANC3F voted 7-0-0, to respectfully request that the Commission of Fine Arts reject this concept application and return the application to the applicant without action.

ANC3F notes that the zoning issues have not been resolved as directed by the CFA its letter of October 15, 2002 in S.L. 02-129. The drawings filed with the application included a drawing identified as "Proposed Site Plan With Existing Footprint Overlayed," Drawing C 101, dated January 2, 2003. This drawing shows that the proposed house is located on proposed Lot B, with an area of 11,022.64 sf. At the ANC meeting, the applicant indicated that he had filed with the Surveyor of the District of Columbia a subdivision plan for Lot 90, the existing lot of the subject application, to reduce it from its current size of more than 17,000 sf. to 11,022.64 sf. and at the same time to increase the size of the smaller adjacent lots 76 and 91 to approximately 11,000 sf. If the current concept application includes the subdivision of the three lots and the siting of the proposed house on "Lot B" as shown in Drawing C 101, the proposed house will not comply with the zoning regulations. The rear yard set back would be only 15' 10½" whereas the required rear yard setback for this property is 25'. This will require a zoning variance or special exception from the DC Board of Zoning Adjustment.

ANC3F's letter of October 11, 2002 regarding the application in S.L. 02-129 noted that there were concerns regarding the commercial appearance in the design of the houses, including the use of aluminum doors, windows and louvers, not being consistent with the setting in proximity to Rock Creek Park. ANC3F has the same concerns regarding the design and materials proposed for the house in the current filing and urges that these be refined prior to filing a new concept design. At the ANC meeting on January 13, commissioners and the public alike had concerns regarding the height, mass, and institutional style of the proposed house under review and its visual impact on views from Rock Creek Park. Commissioners and residents also expressed concern over the building materials chosen by the applicant and felt that the use of yellow brick, brushed silver metal, and the extensive use of glass was not in harmony or keeping with the pristine nature of this park setting and the character and style of the surrounding residential neighborhood.

And, while it is not before the Commission of Fine Arts today, several commissioners indicated that since the applicant is apparently in the process of subdividing the lot and is planning on constructing three homes, the neighborhood would be better served if the project and its impact on the Park were considered as a whole by the Commission in order to see the relationship of this house to the other two proposed houses. In fact, the current application shows a walk on the east and south side of the proposed house going to another proposed house and the driveway to the proposed house extended to the south. These are elements of the proposed three-house development that was filed for concept review on September 6, 2002, S.L. 02-129, and returned to the applicant without action on October 15, 2002.

However, if the Commission of Fine Arts chooses to approve this concept application for the one house at 2800 Chesterfield Place, ANC3F urges that the CFA make clear that its consideration applies only to the proposed razing and reconstruction of that house on existing Lot 90, Square 2258, in its current form and size, and does not include subdivision of the lot, the walk to the east and south of the house, the driveway south of the house, or future construction on adjacent lots owned by American Masterworks.

The proposed project is in Robert V. Maudlin's single member district and he is authorized to represent ANC3F before the Commission of Fine Arts.

Very sincerely yours,

Robert V. Maudlin
2906 Ellicott Terrace, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
202 363-5204
 
 
 
 

cc: The American Master Works LLC
Superintendent, Rock Creek Park
Zoning Administrator, DCRA