MINUTES
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3F
NORTH CLEVELAND PARK, FOREST HILLS & TENLEYTOWN
PUBLIC MEETING
Monday August 2, 2004
Capital Memorial Church
3150 Chesapeake Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
1. CALL TO ORDER [7:33 pm]
Chair Perry called the meeting to order and,
finding
Commissioners Kessler, Bardin, Bernardi, Wiss, and Dennis present,
declared
a quorum.
2. AGENDA [7:34 pm]
The proposed agenda, attached with brief reports,
was
approved on motion of Chair Perry, seconded by Commissioner Bardin,
6-0-0,
with the understanding that liquor license renewals for those
restaurants
that had sent representatives to the meeting would be considered first.
3. MINUTES [7:36 pm]
Minutes of the July 19, 2004, monthly public meeting
were
approved 6-0-0 (Wiss/Perry).
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS [7:36 pm]
A. Announcements by Commissioners:
Commissioner Bardin announced that the ANC election process is about to
begin.
BOEE will have packets available starting Wednesday, August 4, 2004,
for
those interested in running for commissioner. Signed petitions
must
be turned in by September 3, 2004. He encouraged residents of SMC
3F04
to consider running, as he will not be seeking reeelection.
Commissioner Bernardi announced that she, too, will not be seeking
reelection.
Commissioner Kessler announced that the Burger King’s application for
special
exception for use of its parking lot in an R-1B zone district will be
heard
by the BZA on October 5. This issue will be on the September ANC
agenda.
B. Announcements by members of the community:
There were no announcements.
5. OPEN FORUM [7:51 pm]
Mindy Gaynor of 4500 Connecticut Avenue asked about
a
recent incident in which police responded to gun shots at 3424
Albemarle
Street. This single family house is occupied by many
individuals.
Commissioner Kessler will distribute information on this incident by
e-mail
if he receives it from PSA 203. Officer LoConte needs the date of
the
incident.
Marilyn Myerson of 3003 Veazey Terrace is concerned
about
the sidewalk at 4301 Connecticut Avenue in front of CVS. The new
tree
boxes look smaller than the previous ones. Chair Perry suggested
talking
with Jack Galligher of Polinger Luchs. Two street trees also
disappeared
overnight last week from Veazey Terrace. No one is aware of a
permit
for their removal. Mrs. Myerson requested they be replaced by
similar
caliper trees.
Ms. Baer of 4500 Connecticut Avenue is concerned
that
sidewalk cafés, like the one at 4883 Connecticut, are taking up
so
much sidewalk space that pedestrians can hardly walk by. In
addition,
she has found that cars waiting at the Flagship Carwash block the
sidewalk.
Chair Perry, noting that cars also block traffic on Connecticut Avenue
during
rush hour, asked Officer LoConte to enforce the “No Parking/No
Standing”
signs. Officer LoConte says he routinely enforces the signs when
he
is not on assignment.
6. MPD SECOND DISTRICT REPORT [7:50 pm]
Office LoConte presented the police report. On
July
21 shortly after midnight, a 12-gauge shotgun was discharged at 3883
Connecticut,
damaging property at 3901 Connecticut Avenue. He stated that
because
the matter is under investigation, few details are available, but it is
known
that the gun was not registered in D.C. Commissioner Dennis
pointed
out that if the resident whose apartment was hit had been standing, he
could
have been killed. Commissioner Bardin requested that the U.S.
Attorney
come to an ANC meeting to explain the various offenses and penalties in
cases
like this.
Mindy Reiser of 4500 Connecticut Avenue says she has
more
concerns about personal safety than she did when she moved here in
1989.
She has seen people casing the area and has been followed from the
Metro.
She is also concerned that with all the security details of officers to
downtown
Washington to prevent terrorism, policing in Upper Northwest may be
stretched
thin. Officer LoConte pointed out that Forest Hills now has twice
the
complement of police officers than before because it has its own PSA.
Commissioner Perry asked for more enforcement of
traffic
violations and parking restrictions on Van Ness Street and Veazey
Terrace.
Officer LoConte replied that he writes at least one ticket in front of
the
Consulate on each run, but he will bring this to the attention of Lt.
Marshall,
so that he may pass the request on to other officers.
7. CONSIDERATION OF LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS
A. Angelico Pizzeria and Café [8:16 pm]:
Miyesser
Gul Gokpinar stated that she had authority to represent her husband,
the
owner of the restaurant, while he is out of the country. The ANC
voted
6-0-0 (Wiss moving/Perry seconding) to approve the attached addendum
keeping
the July 1, 2003, voluntary agreement in force and not objecting to
renewal
of the license.
B. Chipotle Mexican Grill [8:20 pm]: Phil
Petrilli
represented the restaurant. After discussing the restaurant’s
policy
on preventing underage drinking, the ANC voted 6-0-0 (Wiss
moving/Kessler
seconding) not to object to renewal of the license and to approve the
attached
addendum keeping in force the May 20, 2002, voluntary agreement.
C. Guapo’s Restaurant [8:29 pm]: Fidel Rincon
represented
the restaurant. The ANC voted 6-0-0 (Wiss moving/Bernardi
seconding)
not to object to renewal of the liquor license and to enter into the
attached
voluntary agreement with Guapo’s, which was in ANC 3E until
redistricting.
D. Hibachi Brothers [8:31 pm]: Paul Ngo and
Lyle
Blanchard, Esq., represented the restaurant. Despite plans to
change
ownership, add a bar, increase the number of seats, and change the
hours,
type of food served, and name of the restaurant, they stated that for
the
moment the restaurant intends to keep the number of seats and hours it
has
been operating under and is simply seeking a renewal of its
license.
The ANC voted 6-0-0 (Wiss moving/Bardin seconding) to enter into the
attached
voluntary agreement for the existing format.
E. Hillwood Museum & Gardens [8:47 pm]:
Madge
Minor represented Hillwood. Commissioner Dennis, seconded by
Commissioner
Bardin, moved a voluntary agreement identical to the one signed in
2002,
which covered only Sunday and evening hours. Ms. Minor explained
that
Hillwood also serves alcohol during the day, Tuesday through
Saturday.
Commissioner Wiss, seconded by Commissioner Bardin, moved to amend the
agreement
to include the weekday hours. The amendment was approved 4-0-2
(Commissioners
Perry and Dennis abstaining).
Commissioner Dennis left.
The ANC approved the attached voluntary agreement 5-0-0.
F. Passport Restaurant [8:57 pm]: Commissioner
Perry
moved, seconded by Commissioner Kessler, that the ANC protest renewal
of
the liquor license. She and other residents of Van Ness South
have
seen people leaving the restaurant at 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 am, long
after
the restaurant is supposed to be closed. She has learned that
musical
groups are performing, in violation of the existing voluntary
agreement.
Dave Breedlove, representing the restaurant, denied that anyone was
leaving
the restaurant at those hours, and stated that the musical group is
only
the bartenders. The ANC voted 4-1-0 (Commissioner Bernardi
opposed)
to send the attached letter of protest to the ABC Board.
G. Bombay Café [9:28 pm]: The ANC
approved
the attached addendum to the May 20, 2002, voluntary agreement 5-0-0
(Perry
moving/Bardin seconding).
H. Charlie Chang’s [9:29 pm]: The ANC approved
the
attached addendum to the voluntary agreement 5-0-0 (Perry moving/Bardin
seconding).
I. Thai Room [9:30 pm]: The ANC approved an
addendum
not objecting to renewal of the license 5-0-0 (Bernardi moving/Bardin
seconding).
(Note: this addendum was withdrawn when no original voluntary
agreement
could be found.)
J. Uptown Cathay [9:32 pm]: The ANC approved
the
attached addendum to the voluntary agreement 5-0-0 (Bernardi
moving/Bardin
seconding).
K. Armand’s Chicago Pizzeria [9:33 pm]: The ANC
approved
the attached addendum to the May 29, 2002, voluntary agreement 5-0-0
(Wiss
moving/Bernardi seconding).
L. Jandara [9:34 pm]: The ANC approved the
attached
addendum to the June 21, 2002, voluntary agreement 5-0-0 (Wiss
moving/Bernardi
seconding).
M. Neisha Thai Cuisine [9:36 pm]: The ANC
approved
the attached addendum to the October 8, 2003, voluntary agreement 5-0-0
(Wiss
moving/Bernardi seconding).
N. Ruby Tuesday [9:37 pm]: The ANC approved the
attached
voluntary agreement 5-0-0 (Wiss moving/Kessler seconding).
8. NEW LIQUOR LICENSE FOR EPICUREAN’S COMPANY
[9:14
pm]
C.W. Chon and Andrew Kline, Esq., represented the
restaurant,
which is planning to open at 4250 Connecticut Avenue and will feature
foods
from around the world in a buffet style format. It will have 114
seats,
15 of them at the bar. The only entertainment will be a piano
player
or recorded background music. It will be open seven days a week
from
6:00 am to midnight, with alcohol served from 8:00 am to
midnight.
Carry out service will be available, but not delivery service.
The
ANC approved the attached voluntary agreement 5-0-0 (Perry
moving/Bernardi
seconding).
9. UPTON STREET TRAFFIC CALMING [9:39 pm]
Commissioner Kessler noted that in April and May DDOT collected
baseline
data on streets surrounding Upton Street, as requested in ANC 3F
Resolution
04-05. He moved, seconded by Commissioner Bernardi, that the ANC
now
request that DDOT install the traffic calming devices on Upton Street
approved
in Resolution 04-05. In response to a question from Dina Curtis
of
3685 Upton Street, Commissioner Kessler stated that both resolutions
ask
DDOT to redesign the island at Upton Street and Reno Road. The
ANC
approved Resolution 04-24 by a vote of 5-0-0.
10. REPORT ON THE FOREST HILLS TREE AND SLOPE
PROTECTION
OVERLAY [9:45 pm]
Commissioner Bardin handed out an issues paper he had developed and
given
to the Zoning Commission at the July 22 hearing. He stressed the
importance
of including in the regulation a section on transparency by the Zoning
Administrator.
11. REPORT ON THE UPPER WISCONSIN AVENUE CORRIDOR
STUDY
[9:46 pm]
Commissioner Wiss described the meeting the Office of Planning held on
July
28 to present revisions to the Upper Wisconsin Avenue Corridor
Study.
Of particular concern is the fact that in the revised plan the
Wisconsin
Avenue Baptist Church still has not been placed in the “growth
restriction
area” as requested by ANC 3F. John Allen-Gifford of 4412 – 39th
Street
expressed amazement and great concern that OP had failed to make this
change.
He stated that this issue needs to be resolved before the plan is
finalized.
12. ADJOURNMENT [9:51 pm]
The meeting adjourned (Kessler/Bernardi:
5-0-0).
The next regular monthly ANC meeting will be at the Capital Memorial
Church,
3150 Chesapeake Street, N.W., on Monday, September 20, 2004, at 7:30 pm.
These minutes were approved September 20, 2004, with a quorum present,
at
a duly noticed public meeting of ANC 3F on September 20, 2004.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Cathy Wiss
Cathy Wiss, Secretary
Attachments:
Agenda with brief reports
Addendum to Voluntary Agreement with Angelico Pizzeria and Café
Addendum to Voluntary Agreement with Chipotle Mexican Grill
Voluntary Agreement with Guapo’s Restaurant
Voluntary Agreement with Hibachi Brothers
Voluntary Agreement with Hillwood Museum & Gardens
Ltr 04-06 Protesting Liquor License Renewal for
Passport
Restaurant
Addendum to Voluntary Agreement with Bombay Café
Addendum to Voluntary Agreement with Charlie Chang’s
Addendum to Voluntary Agreement with Uptown Cathay
Addendum to Voluntary Agreement with Armand’s Chicago Pizzeria
Addendum to Voluntary Agreement with Jandara
Addendum to Voluntary Agreement with Neisha Thai Cuisine
Voluntary Agreement with Ruby Tuesday
Voluntary Agreement with Epicurean’s Company
Res 04-24 Traffic Calming on
Upton Street