1. CALL TO ORDER [7:34 pm]
Chair Wiss called the meeting to order and, finding Commissioners Kessler,
Perry, Maudlin, Bardin, Bernardi, and Dennis to be present, declared a
quorum.
2. AGENDA [7:35]
The proposed agenda [attached] was moved by Commissioner Wiss, seconded
by Commissioner Kessler, and approved, 7-0-0.
3. MINUTES [7:37]
Minutes of the May 19, 2003, meeting were approved, on motion of Commissioner
Bardin, seconded by Commissioner Perry. 6-0-1 (Commissioner Kessler
abstaining).
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS [7:38 pm]
5. OPEN FORUM [7:52 pm]
There were no items.
6. STREET TREES IN ANC 3F [7:53 pm]
Former ANC Commissioner Marjorie Rachlin described the expanded tree
steward program, concerning City-owned trees in the public space, and actions
of the Casey Trees Foundation. She has recruited stewards for several
of the SMDs in ANC 3F.
On motion of Commissioner Maudlin, seconded by Commissioner Perry,
the ANC approved use of its name (together with that of the FHCA) in the
attached Guide to Street Trees, 7-0-0 (including editing and improvements
from time to time).
On motion of Commissioner Maudlin, seconded by Commissioner Bardin,
the ANC voted (7-0-0) to establish a Standing Committee on Street Trees,
with Marjorie Rachlin as Chair and Commissioners Maudlin and Bernardi as
commissioner members. Additional members may be added by the ANC
and are invited to volunteer.
7. EDMUND BURKE SCHOOL APPLICATION TO BZA [8:05-11:10 pm]
The Chair set procedures for presentations, indicating that the ANC
would not vote on a resolution until its special meeting on July 1.
She allocated one half hour for presentations by the applicant, Burke School,
to be followed by members of the community (groups or individuals), both
supporting and opposing, and then to be followed by commissioner questions
to the Burke and to any community member. A show of hands indicated
some 23 individuals wanting to speak. After some discussion, the
consensus was for community presentations to start with one group of five
in opposition to be followed by individuals with up to three minutes each.
Commissioner Bardin announced himself recused as to this matter, but taking
minutes as Secretary.
[8:16-8:49] Burke presented (and/or later answered commissioner questions)
through David Shapiro (Head of School), William L. Gridley (of Bowie Gridley,
Architects, accompanied by Jonathan Rodman), Nancy Randall (Wells &
Associates, LLC, traffic consultants), Walter Ailes (Assistant Head
of School), and Phil Feola, Esquire (ShawPittman LLP, legal counsel).
[8:50-9:08] A group of opponents presented by John Dougherty, Esquire
(2957 Tilden), included Julie Weisman (2932 Upton), Jodie Smolik (2945
Upton), Milton Shinberg (2949 Upton), Ruth McDiarmid (2936 Upton), and
Don Vereen (2943 Upton).
[9:09-9:55] Individuals, pro and con, as follows:
Thomas Brown. Opposed. Co-owns 4107
Connecticut Avenue. Also his brother, Ray.
Paul Kane. Pro. 2900 Upton (on corner).
Deirdre Karambelas. Pro. 2938 Upton.
Denise Couture. Pro. 2934 Upton.
Janet Zalman. Pro. 4219 39th Street.
Pearl Richardson. Opposed. 2940 Upton.
Charles Gilligan. Pro. 3405 Garrison.
Ann White. Pro. 5130 Connecticut.
Robert Vricella. Opposed. 2947 Upton.
Jack Barringer. Pro. 4516 30th Street.
Geralyn Lobel. Pro. 4525 31st Street.
William Starrels. Pro. [ANC 2E06] 1045
31st Street.
Ann L. Chase. Pro. 3711 Fessenden.
Dr. Steve Lamm. Pro. 3201 Idaho Avenue
Richard Richardson. Opposed. 2940 Upton.
Collot Guerard. Opposed. 2951 Upton.
Ginger Worthington. Opposed. 2830 Upton.
Robert Molofsky. Pro. 5708 32nd Street.
Melinda Halpert. Pro. 4240 Nebraska.
Christopher Richardson. Pro. 3701 Thornapple,
CC,. MD
Victoria Hartung. Pro. 2702 Lee Highway,
VA
John Mitchell. Pro. 4400 Reno Road.
[9:57] The Chair announced that any further comments would be due in
writing by Monday, June 23, at 5 pm (or sooner). The ANC took a break
[10:00-10:08] and resumed with questions from the commissioners to previous
speakers, answers, promises of future answers, and some colloquies.
Counsel for Burke supplied a copy of Section 3202 of the Building Code
(1999) as pertaining to the bridge over the alley, stating that this regulation
applies and gives review to the Public Space Committee (rather than DC
Code Section 10-1121.04, which gives review to the Zoning Commission).
He based the distinction on the fact that the bridge will be no wider than
a door and will be used exclusively for pedestrian traffic.
Promised data from applicant, Burke, include:
- a detailed plan of the garage showing dimensions
of parking spaces, aisles, driveways, vertical clearance, location of ADA
compliant parking spaces, whether there is an ADA compliant entrance from
the street or driveway;
- information, such as a Phase I study or other
geo-technical report, showing location and depth of subsurface rock and
water and supporting Burke's assertion that this garage can be built,
including results of boreholes B-1 through B-5;
- accurate square footage of each floor and the
square footage of the proposed new building's footprint;
– geographic breakdown of students (confirming oral
report at the meeting);
- traffic information for Upton, Tilden, alley system,
Connecticut, comparing (a) data of Walls & Associates with (b)
earlier data of Burke's previous traffic consultant.
– lighting plan showing the location of lights and
how the school will be lit at night (also requested at an earlier meeting
by Commissioner Perry).
– confirmation of square footage of the outdoor
recreation area on the roof, the location of surrounding walls and stairs,
and the distance from the closest townhouses on the corner of Upton and
Connecticut;
– clarification of number of parking spaces proposed
to be eliminated on Upton Street and Connecticut Avenue during certain
hours of the day.
Burke also agreed to share the construction plan
with neighbors.
8. TREASURER'S REPORT FOR MAY 2003 [11:10 pm]
Commissioner Kessler presented the attached treasurer's report for
May 2003. The ANC deferred discussion, if any, to the July 1 meeting.
9. ADJOURNMENT [11:11 pm]
The meeting adjourned. The next meeting will be held at the Capital
Memorial Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 3150 Chesapeake Street, N.W., on
Tuesday, July 1, 2003, at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ David J. Bardin
David J. Bardin, Secretary
Approved: July 1, 2003
Attachments:
Agenda [with Brief Reports]
Secretary's summary of MPD report of crimes during
May 2003 within ANC 3F (boundaries pre-2003)
Guide to Street Trees
Treasure'=s Report for May 2003