ADVISORY
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3-C
GOVERNMENT
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Cathedral
Heights ∙ Cleveland Park ∙ Massachusetts Ave. Heights ∙
McLean Gardens ∙ Woodley Park
2737
DEVONSHIRE PLACE, NW
WASHINGTON,
DC 20008
(202)
232-2232 FAX: 232-0667
December
20, 2004
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Nancy MacWood called to order
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C (ANC 3C’s) regular monthly meeting for
December 20, 2004 at 7:36 p.m. The meeting was held in the community room at
the Second District Police Station, 3320 Idaho Ave., NW, Washington, DC. Other commissioners present were Allen Hahn,
Nancy Nord, Trudy Reeves, Sally MacDonald, Sheila Hogan, John Welsh and Kurt
Vorndran.
II. VERIFICATION OF NOTICE
Chair
MacWood verified that the proper notice was published in the Northwest Current
and posted on the Cleveland Park listserv and ANC 3C web site.
III. ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Chair
MacWood acknowledged that a quorum (at least five members of the commission)
was present.
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The
agenda was reviewed and approved.
V.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
a.
The
Chair introduced the newly elected commissioners.
b.
Also
announced that Ms. Theresa Lewis was here from the Department of Consumer and
Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) pertaining to the apparent establishment of a rooming
house on 29th Street, NW (ANC3C03).
Also, that there would be a discussion concerning the National
Zoological Park’s Asia Trail Project
(ANC3C01). The Chair indicated that
Commissioner Hahn would preside over the discussions concerning the Zoo.
VI. COMMISSION BUSINESS
a.
National
Zoo’s Asia Trail Project. Commissioner Hahn outlined how the
discussion would proceed and introduced the key speakers: Mr. David White, who is heading a Woodley
Park Community Association (WPCA) subcommittee on the National Zoo’s construction
projects; 2) Mr. John Gibbons, Public Affairs Office of the National Zoo; 3)
Lt. Roch and Officer Roberto Corchado, PSA 204; 4) Ms. Theresa Lewis and Mr.
Toye Bello, DCRA; 5) Mr. Jeff Jennings, Director, Constituent Services, Ward 1 (Councilmember Jim Graham’s office).
Mr.
White provided hand-outs to the commissioners that provided maps, an
environmental assessment, photographs of the Hawthorne Street, NW, site that
permits entry into the Asia Trial construction, and a memorandum to the ANC3C
highlighting grievances of neighbors living at 2929 Connecticut Avenue, NW, who
are most affected by the construction.
Problems involve early arrival of work crews, noise from the work crews,
noise pollution from the construction equipment, the long construction hours
that were approved by the city (7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.).
Mr.
Gibbons then spoke and indicated that the zoo was doing everything it could to
address the concerns of the neighbors and that he had personally left his
office on several occasions to visit the construction site when a complaint was
received at his office, even though he is not supposed to be on the
construction site. Mr. Gibbons
indicated that the construction company has created a staging area for the
workers to arrive and be transported to the construction site in order to
minimize the noise and confusion in the vicinity of the apartment complex. Also in attendance were Tom Meyer and Mark
Mueller from the construction company who responded to several questions
concerning the staging of the construction, noise issues, and problems
associated with drilling and pounding.
Ms.
Lewis indicated that, contrary to what the zoo may have believed concerning the
right to conduct construction between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.,
Monday-Saturday, the regulations permit construction only between the hours of
7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Only in special
circumstances will construction be permitted after those hours, and these are
on an as-needed basis with a special permit being given for only that day. Ms. Lewis offered to make available noise
inspectors who will monitor the noise and said that DCRA has duty officers on
duty for after-hours problems. Ms. Lewis
provided her e-mail address as theresa.lewis@dc.gov.
Lt.
Roch and Officer Corchado indicated that they have not had to issue tickets for
illegal parking due to the construction and that they do patrol the area.
Mr.
Jennings, Director of Constituent Services for Ward 1 (Council Member Graham’s
office) indicated that he would like to encourage the residents and the zoo to
work out an agreement. This has been
done successfully with other zoo projects and has eliminated many
problems. He stated that he is very
eager to see this issue come to a satisfactory resolution.
The
meeting was also attended by residents of 2929 Connecticut Avenue who voiced
their concerns that not everything that was said on the part of the zoo was
completely accurate because the noise levels were still extremely high and the
construction was disruptive which impacted their peace and quiet.
Although
the discussion pertaining to the Asia Trail project was to have concluded
within 30 minutes, the Commission allowed one hour for the discussion. (8:00-9:00 p.m.).
b.
2800
Block of 29th Street, NW. Owner of
building appears to have had construction on the house to facilitate renting
the house as apartments. Owner must
serve notice to tenants that they must vacate.
Theresa Lewis (DCRA) said she would see if there is a waiver to the
90-day vacate order. She indicated that
1) the tenants need to be given their 90 day notice to vacate; 2) the Attorney
General’s office is investigating this matter.
Ms. Lewis said she would come back to the ANC3C in January 2005 to revisit
this matter. This house is zoned only
for single family dwelling.
VII.
CONSENT CALENDAR
a.
Chair
MacWood moved for approval of a Board of Zoning Adjustment special exception
application at 3218 Woodley Road to waive the 8-foot side yard allowance to
build an addition. Since the commission
had not heard any objections from interested parties, they voted unanimously
(8-0) to support the application.
VIII.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
a.
Chair
MacWood introduced consideration of an application by the Protestant Episcopal
Cathedral Foundation (PECF) for a $38 million TEFRA bond to finance its bus
parking garage and car parking.
Discussion focused on neighborhood residents being able to have access
to the garage for a reasonable fee.
Kate Cullen, PECF indicated that there would be adequate parking on the
Cathedral’s grounds, even to accommodate parking for events associated with St.
Albans and NCS. Timeline for TEFRA
hearing was 12/December, 2004. The
approval will be sometime in January 2005; it is not on the Council’s agenda
for December 21, 2004. Discussion resulted
in friendly amendments to the resolution introduced by Commissioner Hogan. Following revision of the resolution, Resolution 2004-036 was approved by a
unanimous vote of 8-0.
b.
3316
Newark Street. Consideration of an
Historic Preservation Review Board application to construct a two-story
addition. Vote: Unanimous approval.
c.
Consideration
of an amendment to the ANC 3C by-laws to prohibit non-commissioners from
serving as committee chairs or co-chairs.
Resolution introduced by Commissioner Reeves. Discussion ensued including input from commissioners-elect
Lindeman and Beckner who urged the seated commissioners to vote against the
resolution and allow the incoming commissioners to take this up in the new
year. Roll-call vote was required:
Votes in Votes
Opposed
Favor of to
Resolution Resolution
MacDonald Hahn
Nord Hogan
Reeves MacWood
Vorndran
Welsh
Because
a 2/3 vote majority is required in order to change the Commission’s by-laws,
the resolution failed.
d.
Final
report of the Special Committee on Alban Towers Parking Garage. Lars Hydle, committee chairperson, gave the
commissioners a report. The
recommendation was that the special committee be extended for an additional six
months. The commission voted
unanimously (8-0) to extend the special committee.
IX. OFFICERS REPORTS
Commissioner
Welsh provided a package containing the ANC Quarterly Report of Financial
Activity for period ending June 30, 2004.
X.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair MacWood adjourned the meeting at approximately
midnight without objection.