1. CALL TO ORDER [7:30 pm]
Chair Wiss called the meeting to order. Commissioners Kogan, Perry, Maudlin, Bardin and Strauss also were present. With six of the seven commissioners present, Chair Wiss declared a quorum.
2. AGENDA [7:31 - 7:57 pm]
The Chair invited comment on the proposed agenda and explained that speaker Dan Tangherlini, Director of DC DOT, would come at a later point than shown in the agenda. Commissioner Kogan objected to allocating as much as an hour and a half for the Washington Home (TWH) BZA application. The Chair said it was a tentative allocation. Commissioner Kogan urged that the ANC plan to vote on the merits of TWH's application at the next regular meeting, on June 17. Commissioner Bardin said that, since the tentative agenda does not list TWH as an action item tonight, it is a discussion item -- making planning for the next step an intrinsic part of that discussion, after the presentations. A motion by Commissioner Bardin, seconded by Commissioner Strauss to approve the tentative agenda failed by a vote of 3-3-0 (Commissioners Kogan, Perry and Maudlin in the negative). A motion by Commissioner Strauss, seconded by Commissioner Bardin to approve the attached agenda with one extra item, "Further steps regarding TWH" just before adjournment (and deleting the Treasurer's report in the absence of the Treasurer), carried 6-0-0.
3. MINUTES [7:58 pm]
Minutes of April 29, 2002, meeting were approved 6-0-0 on motion of Commissioner Bardin, seconded by Commissioner Maudlin.
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS [7:59 - 8:06 pm]
A. Richard Potter announced participation of ANC commissioners in recent
Post Office Customer Appreciation Days.
B. Commissioner Bardin called attention to the Brief Report on the
reverse of the agenda about the June 3 meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee
on Tree & Slope Protection Overlays.
C. Commissioner Wiss reported on small area planning efforts for the
Reno Road - Upton Street - Western Avenue area.
D. Commissioner Kogan reported (a) that regarding two resolutions adopted
at the previous ANC meeting about 2900 Albemarle, he had a meeting scheduled
on May 28 with DCRA Deputy Director and Chief of Staff Theresa Lewis and
expected to have a further report at the next ANC meeting; and (b) that
as to a past Pepco incident, he was working to secure a presentation at
some future date. Pepco's government relations representative, Christine
Wilson, confirmed willingness to provide information.
5. OPEN FORUM [8:06 pm]
There were no open forum items.
6. DELHI DHABA RESTAURANT PUBLIC SPACE APPLICATION #02-021 [8:07 - 8:25 pm]
Commissioner Perry presented Soma Pokharel and Paul Dumera and distributed a memorandum dated 18 March 2002 from Delhi Dhaba's architect (Susan Strohm of Nelson Architects) about discussions with the public space staff and the staff's reported insistence that Delhi Dhaba demarcate its outdoor café with rope and stanchion separation rather than portable planter boxes like those used by the nearest restaurant, Shanghai Garden. Commissioners asked Christine Wilson to pursue Pepco manhole concerns. On motion of Commissioner Perry, seconded by Commissioner Bardin the ANC approved Resolution 02-25 (attached), 6-0-0.
7. MPD SECOND DISTRICT REPORT [8:25 - 8:35 pm]
Officer Gillikin supplied statistics for ANC 3F from May 1-19. Regarding
the car wash at 4432 Connecticut Avenue south of Albemarle, he promised
to get manager Larry Bakley to come to a future ANC meeting with him. He
promised to report the problem of red light running at Tilden and Reno
to Lt. Rocks whose area of responsibility was involved. He confirmed that
an officer with a squad car is assigned each morning to patrol at 36th
Street and Warren to protect Sheridan School traffic. And he was trying
to get more information regarding what happened in managing the demonstration
on the morning of Saturday May 11 near the Israeli Embassy. Officer Gillikin
can be reached by e-mail at trubandit2001@yahoo.com or
trubandit2001@msn.com
In response to Commissioner Kogan's question, Will you come back? He
said, Yes.
8. BOMBAY CAFÉ, 4221 Connecticut, ABRA#50129, Class "C" renewal [8:36 pm]
On motion of Commissioner Perry, seconded by Commissioner Bardin, the ANC approved a new voluntary agreement [attached]. 6-0-0.
9. CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, 4301 Wisconsin Avenue, ABRA#50092, Class "C" renewal [8:37 - 8:50 pm]
On motion of Commissioner Wiss, seconded by Commissioner Perry, the ANC approved a new voluntary agreement [attached]. 6-0-0. There was then some discussion with Bob Blessing of Chipotle regarding the application for a public space permit that had been tabled previously pending efforts to work out the issues with the neighborhood. These issues remain open.
10. ARMAND'S CHICAGO PIZZERIA, ABRA#8933, Class "C" renewal [8:50 - 8:55 pm]
On motion of Commissioner Wiss, seconded by Commissioner Perry, the ANC approved a new voluntary agreement [attached]. 6-0-0.
11. The WASHINGTON HOME, BZA Application #16836 [8:55 - 10:10 pm]
At the request of Chair Wiss and Vice-Chair Kogan, Secretary Bardin assumed the chair for this item. The Washington Home (TWH), through its attorney, George Keys, presented information (including use of display panels) on issues concerning storm water, landscaping, lighting and construction impacts. Presenters were civil engineer Jim Long, with Delon Hampton & Associates, a contractor new to the project, who described the drainage pattern and TWH's plan for two sand filters (one 70' x 10' x 10'; the other 50' x 10' x 10') which would address both water quantity issues (by means of a preliminary, stilling chamber) and water quality issues (by removing oil, grit and other pollutants). Mr. Long said that DOH regulations require water quality treatment for the entire impervious parking lot, but water quantity controls only for the incremental impervious cover. Yet TWH plans to exceed the minium requirements, he said, by designing water quantity controls for a 1-inch storm. Le-Ling Tien, landscape architect, of PEA Landscape Design (a subcontractor to Amos Bailey), discussed tree preservation concepts and said 100 trees would be saved in place and 81 removed, of which 31 would be transplanted. Laurie Dickeson (of prime contractor Amos Bailey Arnold & Associates) discussed planned lighting poles and bollards. And John Armentrout, construction manager (a consultant, not a member of TWH's staff) discussed a six-month construction schedule with work on the parking lot taking 60-90 days and work on the hospice addition taking four months and work being confined to the hours of 7 am to 3:30 pm Mondays through Fridays (with the possibility of also working one or two Saturdays "if that was beneficial to the neighborhood"). Construction traffic will be routed from Wisconsin Avenue to Van Ness and Quebec Streets and enter via 37th Street entrance. TWH will try to keep at least half of the parking lot available for TWH parking throughout. Four speakers from the neighborhood were Henry Guyot of 38th Street, supporting TWH, and, opposing TWH, Jon Graham of Tilden Street, Barbara Beelar of Tilden Street (addressing traffic issues) and Richard Danzig of Upton Street (questioning adequacy of the parking study and lack of a traffic study and noting a 1997 representation by TWH to the BZA that the parking was adequate). Steven Empter of Tilden Street, Mark Bravin of 37th Street and Wayne Curtis of Upton Street also expressed concerns. The ANC requested TWH to supply copies for the commissioners of the material portrayed in the display panels. Mr. Keys said that they would.
12. PRESENTATION BY DAN TANGHERLINI [10:10 - 10:55 pm]
Chair Wiss resumed the chair and introduced the speaker, who summarized the Mayor's budget and announced that the D.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) would again become a separate Department that very midnight. Mr. Tangherlini stressed that DOT is committed to a neighborhood-friendly approach to issues. He explained that regulation of the public space would shift to DOT from the Department of Public Works. He highly praised and expressed great confidence in DOT's new Chief Engineer, Raj Ravilla, and City Arborist, Mark Buscaino.
13. NEXT STEPS AS TO THE WASHINGTON HOME [10:55 - 11:05 pm]
Commissioner Kogan objected to discussing the Washington Home at a special meeting before the next regular meeting on June 17 which would be closer to the second (continuation) session of hearings before the BZA and, therefore, a better time then the previous week, he believed, for the ANC to first take a position on the merits. He also said that there was no need for a special meeting on or about June 10 because the Tree & Slope Overlay proposal had been thoroughly canvassed at two community meetings and would require only a discussion among the commissioners regarding the actual position or positions to take. As to the Levine School matter, he said it would not be ready for discussion until June 17 or later (perhaps at a special meeting). Commissioner Perry saw no need for a special meeting. Commissioner Maudlin said he was willing to attend a special meeting, as did Commissioner Bardin. By consensus, the ANC agreed that its next meeting would be June 17.
14. ADJOURNMENT [11:05 pm]
On motion of Commissioner Perry, seconded by Commissioner Wiss, the ANC adjourned. 6-0-0. Next meeting: June 17, 2002, at 7:30 pm at the Capital Memorial Church.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ David J. Bardin
David J. Bardin, Secretary
Approved: June 17, 2002
Attachments: