MINUTES
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3F
NORTH CLEVELAND PARK, FOREST HILLS & TENLEYTOWN
PUBLIC MEETING
Capital Memorial Church
3150 Chesapeake Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008-2229
Monday, February 13, 2006
1. Call to order [7:30 p.m.]
Chair Wiss called the meeting to order and finding Commissioners Gandhi, Klibanoff, Maudlin, Perry and Winstead present declared a quorum.
2. Agenda [7:32 p.m.]
Chair Wiss presented the meeting agenda which was adopted 5-1-0 (Chair Wiss moving and Commissioner Klibanoff seconding) (Commisioner Winstead opposed).
3. Minutes [7:33 p.m.]
Minutes of the January 9, 2006, monthly public meeting were accepted 6-0-0 after adopting a revision by Chair Wiss (Commissioner Winstead moving and Commissioner Perry seconding).
4. Announcements [7:35 p.m.]
A. Announcements by Commissioners:
Commissioner Wiss:
a. Department of Parks and Recreation will have a meeting on the Wilson pool on February 22, 2006, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wilson School Library.
b. Commissioner Wiss will hold an SMD meeting on the proposed DDOT traffic calming measurers for Upton Street, N.W. at the Washington Home, 3720 Upton Street, N.W. on February 23, 2006, at 7:00 p.m..
B. Announcements by members of the community:
Mr. George Clark, president of the Forest Hills Citizens Association announced that FHCA and the Friends of the Forest Hills Playground are sponsoring a Family Day event at the Forest Hills Playground tentatively scheduled for Sunday, May 7, 2006 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.. (See item 8 below)
5. Open Forum [7:39 p.m.]
None
6. MPD second District Report [7:40 p.m.]
Officer LoConte of PSA 203 did not have a detail crime report but stated that crime in the area was down. He said most of the crime is theft from auto and property crime.
In response to a question by Commissioner Winstead, Officer LoConte said the traffic accident in the 4400 block of Connecticut Avenue on February 8, which resulted in a car being overturned, was due to a car being in the wrong lane during rush hour. The accident was recorded by cameras at the carwash.
Commissioner Perry asked Officer LoConte to supply her with a list of crimes since November 2005 at 3003 Van Ness Street. He said he would.
7. Election of ANC secretary [7:44]
Chair Wiss reported that Commissioner Winstead had resigned as Secretary on January 16, and asked if any commissioner was willing to serve as secretary. When no one responded, Commissioner Maudlin said he would serve as acting secretary until the March meeting. This was approved by a vote 6-0-0 with Chair Wiss moving and Commissioner Perry seconding.
8. Consideration of a letter to DPR in support of the Forest Hills Family Day to be held at the Forest Hills Playground on May 7, 2006 [7:46 p.m.]
Commissioner Winstead reported that Ms. Alison Howard, President of the Friends of Forest Hills Playground (FOFHP) had been advised by DPR that they needed a letter from ANC 3F in support on the FOFHP/FHCA request to use the playground for a Family Day event on May 7, 2006, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.. Commissioner Winstead moved a letter supporting the request, seconded by Commissioner Gandhi. They agreed to two friendly amendments and the motion was adopted 6-0-0. [Ltr 06-03]
9. Consideration of a letter in support of a request by the Friends of Peirce Mill for $250,000 from federal sources to complete restoration of the mill [7:53 p.m.]
Mr. Richard Abbott, President of the Friends of Peirce Mill, said his group was seeking $250,000 in federal funding, which would be matched by private funds, to complete the restoration of Peirce Mill. He reported that the group has raised $540,000 toward the $1,000,000 needed to restore the mill to an operating mill.
Commissioner Klibanoff presented a draft letter to Representative Norton requesting support of funding through the FY 2007 DC appropriations bill or Save America’s Treasurers (White House program). Commissioner Klibanoff moved the draft letter supporting the $250,000 funding, seconded by Commissioner Gandhi which was adopted 4-2-0.
Commissioner Winstead, seconded by Commissioner Perry moved to reconsider the vote. It was moved by Commissioner Perry, seconded by Commissioner Maudlin to strike from the letter the source of the federal funding and that the justifications for the funding are strengthened. The motion was adopted 6-0-0. [Ltr 06-04]
10. Presentation on FMBZA Application No. 17481 to expand and renovate the Chancery of the Republic of Hungary at 3900 Shoemaker Street and 2950 Linnean Avenue, N.W. [8:24 p.m.]
Ms. Allison C. Prince, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, attorney for the Republic of Hungary, outlined an application filed with the Foreign Missions Act Board of Zoning Adjustment for the renovation of the existing main chancery building at 3900 Shoemaker Street, N.W. and the construction of a smaller building on an adjacent lot (replacing an existing house) at 2950 Linnean Avenue, N.W. The FMBZA hearing on the application is scheduled for April 11, 2006. The renovation is on a site zoned R-5-D and the new building is in an R-1-A district which is in the Forest Hills Tree and Slope Overlay District.
Mr. Bill Geier, Geier Brown Renfrow Architects, the local architect and Mr. Bob Good, Stephenson & Good, the landscape architect, described the proposed project and responded to questions. They present samples of the materials to be used to re-clad the larger building. Dr. Bernard Sussman, 2400 Tilden Street, N.W., the closest resident to the sites, asked questions regarding noise from the proposed HVAC system. This application is to be considered at the March 13, 2006 ANC meeting.
11. Consideration of draft Comprehensive Plan Generalized Land Use Policy Map [9:29 p.m.]
Commissioner Wiss presented a draft resolution similar to a resolution on the plan tabled at the ANC’s January 9, 2006 meeting. The proposed resolution requested that the commercial District on the east side of Connecticut Avenue from Van Ness Street to Windom Place (“Van Ness/UDC” area) and the commercial district and portions of the R-1-B and R-2 zones along both sides of Wisconsin Avenue from Upton Street to Brandywine Street (part of the “Upper Wisconsin Avenue Corridor”) designated as “Growth Management Areas” be changed to “Conservation Areas.” Several Changes were made in the draft resolution, which was then moved by Commissioner Wiss, seconded by Commissioner Winstead and adopted by a vote of 5-1-0. (Commissioner Gandhi opposed) [Res 06-05]
12. Consideration of expenditure for a new computer for the ANC office [9:51 p.m.]
Commissioner Gandhi proposed that the commission purchase a Gateway computer and a monitor at Office Depot at a cost of $579.99 and $279.99 respectively. Motion by Commissioner Gandhi, seconded by Commissioner Winstead, to approve $1,000 for the purchase. Commissioner Perry requested that a 3 ½ inch disk drive be added to the computer. The motion was adopted by vote of 6-0-0. Mr. Mark White, OANC, indicated that his office was working a means to supply all ANC’s with MS Office software.
13. Consideration of retaining administrative help for the ANC [10:04 p.m.]
The commissioners discussed the need to retain a person to help with administrative tasks of the commission. The issue was not resolved and will take up at a later date.
14. Consideration of a replacement suitcase to carry the ANC’s audio equipment [10:15pm]
Commissioner Wiss moved and Commissioner Gandhi seconded a motion to authorize $200 for the purchase of a suitcase or to fix the broken suitcase used to carry the ANC’s audio equipment. The motion failed by a vote of 2-4-0. Commissioner Winstead proposed that an effort will be made to use the sound system at the church which may require the purchase of a cable ($30) which could come from petty cash.
15. Adjournment [10:28 p.m.]
Commissioner Gandhi moving and Commissioner Klibanoff seconding the meeting adjourned with a vote of 6-0-0.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Robert V. Maudlin
Robert V. Maudlin, Acting Secretary
The next regular monthly public meeting is scheduled for March 13, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital Memorial Church.
These minutes were approved 7-0-0, with a quorum present, at a duly noticed public meeting of ANC 3F on March 13, 2006.
Attachments:
Agenda
Ltr 06-03 Support of use of the Forest Hills Playground for a Family Day event, May 7, 2006
Ltr 06-04 Request of federal funds for the restoration of Peirce Mill
Res 06-05 Requesting changes in the draft Comprehensive Plan Generalization Land Use Policy Map