Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes

July 28, 2003

I. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Nancy MacWood called to order Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C (ANC3C’s) regular monthly meeting for July 28, 2003 at 7:38 p.m. The meeting was held at the community room, Second District Police Station, 3320 Idaho Ave., NW, Washington, DC. Other commissioners present were Richard Bartel, Allen Hahn, Sheila Hogan, Sally MacDonald, Nancy Nord, Trudy Reeves, Kurt Vorndran and John Welsh.

II. VERIFICATION OF NOTICE: Chair MacWood verified that the proper notice was published in the Northwest Current and posted on the Cleveland Park e-mail list and ANC3C website.

III. ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM: Chair MacWood acknowledged that a quorum (at least five members of the commission) was present.

IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: With minor adjustments, the agenda was approved without objection.

a. Chair MacWood stated that the D.C. Department of Transportation is seeking feedback on where to place traffic signals that indicate how many seconds pedestrians have to cross the street. After some discussion, the intersections that commissioners recommended include: Connecticut and Calvert, Connecticut and Macomb, Wisconsin and Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Porter, Wisconsin and Newark, and Wisconsin and Woodley. Commissioner Vorndran stated his concern that the Connecticut and Calvert intersection indicates to pedestrians it is safe to cross without instruction to drivers. Chair MacWood stated she would raise the issue and would ask DDOT for more criteria to whittle down which intersections to recommend.

b. Chair MacWood introduced Denise Wiktor, public space manager for DDOT and executive secretary for the public space committee. Ms. Wiktor discussed the public space committee’s role, and stated that it issues permits for whatever occurs in the public right of way, such as Dumpsters and sidewalk cafes, unless it’s a DDOT project. She stated that the public space committee is statutorily created and includes representatives from DCRA and OP. They consider permanent fixtures on public space, such as fountain, signs and rocks in landscaping. She stated the permits are physically produced by DCRA but issued by public space.

Ms. Wiktor stated that valet parking and soda machines are hot issues, and DCRA has started ticketing soda machines as being unpermitted. She also stated that thousands of pay phones in the city are without public space permits and without licenses by the public space commission.

Ms. Wiktor stated that valet parking is currently an unlicensed business in the city. She stated that some restaurants run it themselves with no insurance, and that only one public space area — 18^th St., NW — has official permission, as a pilot project, to use valet.

After further discussion, Ms. Wiktor offered her contact information, 202-535-2699 (phone), denise.wiktor@dc.gov (email).

Chair MacWood thanked Ms. Wiktor for attending the meeting and addressing several issues of interest to the public.

a. Chair MacWood introduced a public space application for 2845 McGill Terrace, NW. Commissioner Nord introduced the architect for the project. The architect stated that the owners are seeking permission for a curb cut for a major renovation at the house. The new circular driveway is not intended for parking, he stated, since the residents have a garage. The curb cut would allow drivers to back up. The resident stated that she talked to an arborist to say a tree in the public space will not be damaged during this construction. Commissioner Hogan stated she would like to see a bond posted so that if a tree dies within five years, the city gets compensated. Commissioner Nord moved that ANC3C notify public space that they have no objection to the curb cut, and Commissioner Reeves seconded. Commissioner Hogan offered a friendly amendment to require a bond be posted for the value of the tree, to be released after three years if the tree is still alive and in good condition.

Commissioner Nord stated that the owners assured her there wouldn’t be harm to the tree and they wouldn’t have done the project if it hurt the tree. She stated her concern that ANC3C is trying to impose a requirement that is above and beyond what is in the law. Commissioner Hogan stated that the city law allows for fines if damage is done to trees in public space.

Chair MacWood stated that no one is guaranteed the right to a curb cut and no one has a right to destroy a tree in public space. Therefore, she thought Commissioner Hogan’s amendment was an appropriate issue to discuss.

Commissioner Nord accepted Commissioner Hogan’s friendly amendment and called the question. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of 8-0.

b. Chair MacWood introduced Ken Doggett, representing the British Embassy. Mr. Doggett stated that the embassy was going before the Public Space Committee on Aug. 28 to ask for public space use for a replacement gate house and six planters. Mr. Doggett stated that security is a concern for the embassy, and the State Department had approved the plan. Commissioner Nord moved that the commission inform Public Space that they had no objection to the plan. Commissioner Welsh seconded. The motion passed by a unanimous vote of 9-0.

c. Commissioner Welsh stated that the ANC Historic Preservation Committee had already considered two applications to the DC Historic Preservation Review Board:

- 3429 34^th St., NW – Commissioner Welsh stated that owners Eleanor and Leonard Oliver planned construction of a two-floor sunroom addition to the rear, and that the addition is not visible from the street. Commissioner Welsh stated the committee had no issues with this proposal and moved approval of the concept plan. Commissioner Hahn seconded. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of 9-0.

- 2820 Connecticut Ave., NW - Commissioner Welsh stated this was a concept plan for an addition to a condominium development. A three-story townhouse addition would be connected to the existing structure by a wall of glass. The proposal calls for renovation of the existing building and the removal of the existing porch and existing iron work on the windows.

Commissioner Welsh stated that the owners agreed to make changes to the plans and present them at the next ANC3C meeting.

-- 3454 Newark St., NW Chair MacWood stated the owners went before the Historic Preservation Review Board and they gave it conceptual approval with a caveat. Chair MacWood stated that owners wish to replace a two-story sunroom in the back of the house that is not original to the house. The committee was concerned that the proposed double hip roof was not traditional to the community. Chair MacWood moved that ANC3C concur that they had no objection to the concept and supported the Historic Preservation Office staff report that said further study on the roofline is warranted. Commissioner Hogan seconded. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-1, with Commissioner Bartel opposing.

a. Chair MacWood introduced Chuck Thies, who advocates smoke-free workplaces in DC. He stated that the grassroots organization he works with, Smoke-free DC, was in the process of educating businesses, residents and workers in DC of their right to breathe clean air in the workplace.

After further discussion, Chair MacWood thanked Mr. Thies and asked if they would return for the August meeting.

b. Commissioner Vorndran introduced a resolution to be considered at next month’s meeting. He stated that Oyster Elementary School has a drop-off roadway on the 29^th St. side, between Woodley and Calvert. Commissioner Vorndran stated that drivers enter on the south and exit north, and since many turn left when leaving the school, it creates gridlock. The parents at the school have asked that a no left turn sign be installed for the mornings, to require drivers to proceed north on 29^th. Commissioner MacDonald seconded, and the issue was tabled until next month’s meeting.

a. Commissioner Hahn moved that the meeting minutes from the June ANC3C meeting be approved, and Commissioner Welsh seconded. Without objection, the minutes were approved with minor changes.

b. Commissioner Welsh discussed ANC3C’s bank account and stated he was sending June documents to the ANC3C accountant and will send the third quarter FY 03 report to the DC auditor.

c. Commissioner MacDonald stated she had recently taken part in CERT emergency training, and encouraged others to enroll.

ANC3C’s July meeting adjourned at 10:48 p.m.