UC

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D

65 I St., SW

Washington, DC 20024

Minutes

April 11, 2005

In the absence of Chairman Andy Litsky, Vice-Chair Roger Moffatt called the meeting to order at 7:14 p.m.

Present: Commissioners Assalaam, Moffatt, Skolnik, Sobelsohn, and Williams.

 1.    Approval of agenda

Commissioner Sobelsohn made/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to approve the proposed agenda.  Without objection, on request of the commissioner indicated, the agenda was amended to include the following: (1) update on the King-Greenleaf Recreation Center (Williams); (2) update on Anacostia Waterfront Corporation meeting (Williams); (3) report on Zanzibar liquor-license status hearing (Skolnik); and (4) announcement about Greenleaf seniors' relocation (Assalaam). The motion to approve the proposed agenda, as amended, passed 4-0, with Commissioner Assalaam not voting.

 2.    Community concerns

Gene Solon spoke about (a) sign-in sheets, (b) a promised DC Department of Transportation traffic study  (c) the League of Women Voters' report of votes in the recent Southwest Neighborhood Assembly board elections, and (d) a “common ownership” law proposal for DC.

 3.    Police report

No one attended to report on behalf of the Police Department.

 4.    Minutes of March 14 meeting

Commissioner Skolnik made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to approve the proposed minutes of the March 14 meeting.  The motion passed without opposition.  Commissioners Assalaam and Williams abstained.

5.  Liquor licenses

    a.  The Lime

At 1824 Half St., SW, The Lime would occupy the space formerly held by Pier 9.  Its owners would like ANC support for a stipulated liquor license pending their obtaining a permanent license.  Commissioner Moffatt recently provided the owners with a draft voluntary agreement.  At the April 11 ANC meeting the owners agreed to comply with the voluntary agreement in exchange for ANC 6D support for their stipulated license.  Commissioner Assalaam made/Commissioner Moffatt seconded a motion to support a stipulated license for The Lime conditioned on the owners' execution of the draft voluntary agreement.  The motion failed, 2-3, with Commissioners Assalaam and Moffatt voting yes, and Commissioners Skolnik, Sobelsohn, and Williams voting no.

    b.  Zanzibar

Commissioner Skolnik reported that he had attended an Alcohol Beverage Control Board status hearing on the license renewal for Zanzibar.  The hearing was continued pending negotiations over a voluntary agreement.

6.  Zoning and development

    a.  Old Friendship Baptist Church

Joel Lawson, of the DC Office of Planning (OP), made a presentation about redevelopment of the Old Friendship Baptist Church site.  The current owner wants to build residential condominiums on the site.  A Zoning Commission hearing is scheduled for June 20, 2005.  OP is working with the applicant on issues of affordable housing, permissible use of the actual church building, and other community amenities (including maintenance of Randall Park).

    b.  Baseball stadium

        1) Presentation by Office of Planning

Joel Lawson also made a presentation about the proposed baseball stadium

for South Capitol and N Streets, SE.  The area is currently zoned commercial/residential.  OP is proposing, to the Zoning Commission, an amendment to the Capitol Gateway Overlay that would (1) clarify that the stadium is a permissible use, (2) change the requirements for height and setback, and (3) require that the Zoning Commission specifically approve any proposed building on the site (precluding any "as of right" development).  Lawson promised to work on transportation issues, especially protecting the neighborhood from additional game-day car traffic, and encouraging the use of bicycles (for example, by providing bike racks and backpack privileges).  Upcoming events include a community workshop on April 23 and a Zoning Commission hearing June 2 (for which comments are due by May 19).

        2) Presentation by Turner Construction

Rosalind Styles, Jamie Whitfield, and Henry Gilford made a presentation (respectively) on behalf of Capital City Associates, Turner Construction, and Gilford Corporation.  The three organizations form a partnership that plans to bid for the contract to build the new stadium.  They would like ANC 6D support for their bid.  They asked ANC 6D to provide them with a "laundry list" of requests regarding the stadium and promised to broker a deal to benefit the community.  Community requests could become conditions on the final approval order from the Zoning Commission.  They also promised to bring a list of their various DC projects to the ANC at the May meeting.

 7.    DC Department of Transportation presentations

Allen Miller of the DC Department of Transportation (D-DOT) made two presentations.

   a.   Riverwalk Trail

When completed, DDOT’s Anacostia Riverwalk Trail will constitute a comprehensive trail system for pedestrians and bicyclists to access the Anacostia waterfront and Anacostia Park.    DDOT has already finished section 1, the east side of the river from the Benning Road Bridge to the Frederick Douglass Bridge.  In June DDOT will start on section 2, the west side of the river from the Washington Navy Yard to the Benning Road Bridge.  Miller expects completion of section 2 by summer 2006.  The part of the trail on surface streets will include speed tables (long speed bumps) to slow down traffic.  In response to a question from one of the commissioners, Miller expressed support for erecting concrete on-street barriers to protect bicycle lanes.

   b.     Water Street Fish Wharf intersection

Miller described DDOT’s plans to reconstruct the intersection at Maine Ave. and 9^th St., SW, and to eliminate Water St., SW.  He detailed different levels of “peak hour” traffic, from Level A (“little” traffic) through Level E (cars can proceed through the intersection by the second change of lights) and Level F (cars can’t clear the intersection even by the second change of lights).  Afternoon “peak” time is 4:30-5:30 p.m. Each intersection costs $1.5-3 million.  DDOT considers Level A a waste of pavement, and Levels D or E ideal.  Miller characterized the current intersection at 9^th St. and Maine Ave. as Level D; the intersection of 7^th St. and Maine Ave. as Level B (in the morning) and C (in the afternoon); the intersection of 6^th St. and Maine Ave. as Level B (in the afternoon); and all of Water St. as Level A at all times.  DDOT estimates traffic will grow 1% per year along Maine Ave.  According to Miller, after elimination of Water St. and reconstruction of the intersection at Maine Ave. and 9^th St., that intersection will have peak traffic Level F, and the intersections at 6^th and 7^th Streets will go to Level D.

 8.    Waterside Mall

Commissioner Williams made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to support the April 2005 petition of the Waterside Towers residents entitled “A petition to save the SW small businesses threatened with closure.”  The petition text is attached to these minutes.  The motion passed 5-0.

Commissioner Assalaam made/Commissioner Williams seconded a motion to establish a committee to investigate the status of plans for the Waterside Mall and to report back to the ANC at a later meeting.  Commissioner Williams made/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to amend the underlying motion to specify that the committee would include at least Commissioners Litsky, Skolnik, and Williams.  The motion to amend passed 4-1, with Commissioner Sobelsohn the only vote in opposition.

Commissioner Sobelsohn made/Commissioner Assalaam seconded a motion to extend the time of the meeting to 10:15 p.m.  The motion passed 5-0.  The motion to establish a special Waterside Mall Committee passed 5-0.

 9.    Street closings for upcoming races

Both of these upcoming races will require closing parts of Independence Ave., SW, and 14^th St., SW, for part of the day of the race.

    a.  Komen National Race for the Cure

Carri Farrand made a presentation about the National Race for the Cure Saturday, June 4^th.  It will start at 8 a.m., end by noon, and cover five kilometers.  Commissioner Williams made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to support the necessary street closings.  The motion passed 5-0.

    b.  Army Ten-Miler

George R. Banker made a presentation about the Army Ten-Miler Sunday, October 2.  It will start (at the Pentagon) at 8 a.m. and end by 11.   Commissioner Williams made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to support the necessary street closings.  The motion passed 5-0.

10.  SmokeFree DC

Angela Bradbery made a presentation for SmokeFree DC about Bills 16-0187 and 16-0193, both currently pending in the DC City Council.  Each bill would make all DC workplaces--bars and restaurants included--free from tobacco smoke.  Commissioner Sobelsohn made/Commissioner Williams seconded a motion to endorse a resolution supporting both bills and designating Commissioner Sobelsohn to testify for ANC 6D in favor of the two bills as introduced.  The text of the resolution is attached to these minutes.  The motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Moffatt the only vote in opposition.

11.   Anacostia Waterfront Corporation

§         Commissioner Williams reported on a meeting Saturday April 9 between the board of the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation (AWC) and the Capital Area Minority Contractor and Business Association.  The AWC bylaws make its proceedings confidential.  Commissioner Williams reported that AWC has taken under advisement her suggestion that the AWC conduct its official proceedings in public, in accordance with “Government in the Sunshine” principles.

12.   King-Greenleaf Recreation Center

Commissioner Williams reported that the director of the new King-Greenleaf recreation     center will meet April 12 with the director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, and that Parks and Recreation will hold a public meeting about the facility on April 14.  She also reported that the organization Resolution 7 is requesting support for a family-strengthening program to operate out of King-Greenleaf.

13.   Memorial Peace Garden

Commissioner Williams reported that a $3,000 grant has been awarded for building a Memorial Peace Garden at the corner of South Capitol and M Streets, SW.

14.  Greenleaf Seniors

Commissioner Assalaam reported that management of Greenleaf Gardens has decided to move the seniors out of their apartments to smaller, studio apartments elsewhere.  He called for all Southwest residents to protest the relocations.

15.  Chairman’s report

The chair, being absent, made no report.

16.  Treasurer’s report

Commissioner Skolnik, as ANC 6D treasurer, gave a treasurer's report for March 14-April 11, 2005.  The report is attached to these minutes.  We have $39,974.00 in current funds.  The report included six items for approval, totaling $945.19.  Commissioner Skolnik made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to approve these six items and generally to approve the treasurer’s monthly report.  The motion passed 5-0.

17.  Committee reports

There were no committee reports.

18.  Audience comment

Members of the audience expressed (a) concern for preservation of the Banneker Memorial, (b) skepticism about the Department of Transportation's presentation regarding a new Maine Ave./9th St. intersection, (c) disappointment at the ANC’s rejection of a stipulated license for The Lime, and (d) encouragement for wider dissemination of information about the agendas and decisions of the ANC.

19.  Adjournment

Commissioner Skolnik made/Commissioner Moffatt second a motion to adjourn. The motion passed 3-0, with Commissioners Assalaam and Williams not voting.  The meeting adjourned at 10:21 p.m.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D
65 I Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

554-1795 n FAX 554-1774

office@anc6d.org