Advisory
Neighborhood Commission 6D
Present:
Commissioners Hamilton, Litsky, Moffatt, Siegel, Skolnik, and Sobelsohn.
The
meeting was convened at 7:04 p.m.
1.
Agenda
The discussion of the 11th Street Bridge
and 14th Street Bridge were both moved so they could be discussed
consecutively. The discussion of the approval of committee members was changed
to approval of Committee chairs. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/ Commissioner Skolnik seconded the
approval of the agenda as amended. The
motion was approved without objection.
2.
Community Comment
Two
community residents addressed the Commission – Gene Solon, a resident of
Harbour Square and Ahmad Nuradeen, the president of the Jefferson Jr. High
School PTA.
3. Public Safety
There
was no representative of the 1st District present.
4. Old Business
This
project was discussed prior to a Zoning Commission hearing for approval of a
PUD on February 15th. Ron
Braddock, representing Fairfield Properties LLC presented their proffer of
community benefits including contributions of $17,000 each to Jefferson Jr.
High School, Amidon School and Bowen Elementary School; $15,000 to the
Southwest Library; and $15,000 for a study of Town Center Park so that it can
be restored. He described the plans
they have been working on with the tenants to convert at least one of the four
buildings in the development to buildings to condominiums. The plan to rehab the units in the existing
north building and current residents will move there at their current rents
while the rest of the project moves forward.
They are using the original landscape architects to create a public park
in the center of the development.
Joanna
Shreve, the Chief Tenant Advocate at DCRA and Keith Anderson, the Rental
Administrator, who had been asked to look into the project by Councilmember
Wells, reported that the Fairfield Realty was not certified to do business in
the District, had not filed for a business license and was subject to daily
fines. They also outlined what tenants’
rights are in a conversion of this type.
Fairfield appears to be a subsidiary of Marina View Trustees LLC, and
that Fairfield is taking over the project, but there has been no public
disclosure of that information.
It
was also pointed out that a written conversion plan had not been presented to
the tenants, which is a requirement of conversion projects. Other points of discussion included the
process for moving the tenants, and the right of return for tenants who do not
choose to buy. Lee Adams, the president
of the Marina View Tenants Council asked for the ANC’s support of the project,
Marilyn Killingham, a Marina View tenant spoke in opposition to the project;
and Paul Greenberg of Tiber Island Cooperatives expressed concerns about the
project’s setback from M Street, and the relationship of the new building to
the buildings at Waterside Mall. which will have a 22’ setback from the street;
and Rick Bardash spoke against the project, saying it will double the density
of the area.
Motion:
Commissioner Litsky
made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to support the project with the
following conditions:
§ that the setbacks of the newly constructed building
to be located on M Street, SW be consistent with and equivalent to the setbacks
approved, or to be approved, for the adjacent Waterfront Mall but in no event
less than 22 feet from the curb line, in order to minimize nearby residents’
loss of vistas, open space and light, air and view; and that final setbacks for
the Marina View PUD Application be deferred until, and be considered in
conjunction with, the final consideration of setbacks along M Street, SW for
the Waterfront Mall PUD;
§ that it can be determined that the Applicant is duly
licensed to do business in the District of Columbia by the Department of
Consumer and Regulatory Affairs;
§ that any fines having been levied by the District of
Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs against the Applicant
(and any of its appellations) are paid in full; and
§ that a formal condominium conversion and renovation
plan be prepared by the Applicant and distributed to the Marina View Towers
residents not less than 30 days after the approval of this PUD so residents may
vote on the plan in accordance with District law.
The motion passed 6-0. Commissioner Skolnik was authorized to represent the ANC before the Zoning Commission later in meeting by a vote of 6-0.
5. New Business
1325 South Capitol
Street
This is a residential
development of approximately 276 apartments that will go before the Zoning
Commission for Capitol Gateway Zoning Overlay Design Review on February
22. Commissioner Hamilton reported that
Camden Development and Christine Roddy, representing Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman, its attorneys had met with members of her SMD and had presented a
Development and Construction Management Plan which says that the Applicant will
designate a representative to interface with the community to deal with any
problems that arise during construction, such as noise, dirt, damage to
buildings. In addition, it defines
cleanliness standards, work hours, traffic, loading and parking rules, and
initiatives to protect the neighboring community. In addition the Applicant
will maintain a resume bank of local residents for potential jobs on the
project. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Hamilton
seconded a motion to support the design review of 1325 South Capitol Street.
Additional issues that
the Applicant agreed to included a pest control program during construction;
the inclusion of 11,250 sq. ft. for affordable housing (80% of AMI); the
leasing of parking spaces for at market rate to neighborhood residents after
the building is 94% occupied; the lease, for 20 years, of parking spaces at a
50% discount for the residents of 2,4,6, and 8 O Street; the provision of a
construction timetable for the community; the construction of a decorative
fence identical to the Applicant’s, extending north to N Street; and a
preference for ANC 6D residents in reviewing applications for tenancy, with a
commitment to work out the details of such a preference by Septeber 1,
2008. The Construction Plan and the
additional conditions will be submitted into the record for the zoning case.
The motion passed
6-0. Commissioner Hamilton was
authorized to represent the ANC at the Zoning Commission. It passed by a vote of 6-0.
St. Patrick’s Day 8K
Race for the Special Olympics
Rick Freedman presented
the route for the St. Patrick’s Day 8K Race.
Motion: Commissioner
Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to support the Special
Olympics 8K Race. It was approved 4-0.
(Commissioners Litsky and Siegel were not present).
WASA Sonic Boring in
Southwest
Larry Williamson of WASA
explained that WASA would be doing subsurface explorations for a new tunnel at
the WASA pumping station on Tingey Street SE at the end of March and early
April.
11th Street
Bridge
Christopher Herman gave a
presentation on the current options for a new 11th Street Bridge,
and their impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
6. Election Procedures
The procedures for the
special election for SMD 03, which will take place at the March 12 meeting were
read, and adopted 6-0. Motion: Commissioner
Skolnik moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to develop a flyer to
publicize the election. It passed
6-0. Gottlieb Simon drew lots for the
order of the names on the ballot: Clarence Brown, Ron McBee.
7.
Committees
Approval of Committee
Chairs
Motion: Commissioner
Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded the appointments of the following
Committee chairs: Alcoholic Beverage and Licensing: Allan Holland; Development
and Zoning: Deb Moss; Community Outreach and Grants: Naomi Monk. The Committee chairs were approved 6-0.
Grants
Motion: Commissioner
Skolnik moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a grant of $1000 to Jefferson Jr.
High School PTA for the purchase of computer equipment and supplies to publish
a newspaper for the school. It passed
6-0.
8.
Minutes
Motion:
Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to approve the
November minutes. It passed 3-2-1, with
Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining.
Motion: Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Skolnik
seconded a motion to approve the January minutes. It passed 5-0-1, with Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining
9. Treasurer’s Report
Commissioner Skolnik presented the Treasurer's Report for January
8 to February 12, 2007. A copy of his
report is attached to these minutes.
ANC 6D has $45,681.58 in current funds, including a District allotment
of 4,873,05. The savings account has
$5,127.27, including an interest payment of $2.17. The report includes expenses submitted for approval staff salary,
$554.10 (Check #297), $313.82 to Verizon for telephone services (Check #298);
$34.85 to the DC Treasurer for state withholding (Check #299); $1,202.58 to the
US Treasury for federal withholding (Check #300); $25.00 to the ANC Security
Fund (Check #301); $90 to St.
Augustine’s Church for space rental (Check #302); $10 to National Capital Bank
for a service fee (debit). Motion: Commissioner Skolnik
made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to approve the February report
and to authorize payment of the expenses. The motion passed 6-0.
Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a
motion to approve the ANC’s quarterly report for the first quarter of FY 07. It
passed 6-0.
Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion
that the ANC support an expenditure of up to $300 for flyers for the special
election. It passed 6-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 pm.