Meeting Minutes
November 10, 2016, 7:30 pm
The meeting convened at 7:37 PM. Commissioners Bender, Hall, McHugh, Quinn and Wallace were present.
Announcements / Open Forum– opportunity for members of the community to raise issues of concern or importance to the 3E neighborhood
Commissioner Wallace shared a copy of the “Where to Find Food in Ward 3,” a document produced by Iona Services which was partially funded by a grant from ANC3E.
Ian Maggard, the Ward 3 Liaison to the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations, announced that DPW has begun its yearly leaf collection program and distributed the schedule.
Presentation by 2nd District Police
Lt. Hill from the 2nd District provided an update on crime trends in the area. Lt. Hill reported that one of the armed robberies at Steak ‘n Egg restaurant, on October 17, was closed with the arrests of two suspects. Lt. Hill did not have an immediate answer to Commissioner Bender’s question whether the two Steak and Egg robberies were linked.
Lt. Hill reported that the MPD is obtaining good video footage from cameras that the DC Private Security Camera Program helped fund and Commission Bender asked if Lt Hill knew how much money remained in the security camera program. Details about the program can be found at http://ovsjg.dc.gov/service/private-security-camera-system-incentive-program.
Attendees asked about enforcement of the “no turns” signs from River Road at 43rd and Chesapeake. Commissioners Quinn and Wallace asked Lt. Hill about the laws governing the operation of mopeds on sidewalks. and.
Finally, Lt. Hill reminded the audience to call 911 if they witness a crime or see something suspicious call 911. For any other questions, email alan.hill@dc.gov.
Discussion of and possible vote on grant application by Tenleytown Main Street for support of Winterfest
At the October meeting, Leigh Catherine Miles, Executive Director of Tenleytown Main Street, presented a grant request in the amount of $1,240. The funds are to be used for promotional materials including banners, advertisements and posters for Tenleytown Winterfest. The Commission generally hears a request one month and votes on it the following month. Commissioner Bender noted that he would not participate in the decision process for the grant because he serves on the board of Tenleytown Main Street (TMS). An attendee asked Commissioner Wallace to recuse herself from the matter since she also sits on the board of TMS; she declined to do so. Commissioner Quinn moved and Commissioner Hall seconded a motion to support the grant request. The motion was approved 4-0-1 with Commissioner Bender abstaining.
Discussion of and possible vote on resolution regarding renewal application for liquor license for Club Cinema of Mazza
Commissioner Bender stated that the Commission does not normally take action for liquor license renewals (as opposed to new applications) unless there are complaints about the establishment. No concerns about the licensee were brought to the commissioners’ attention in advance of the meeting and none were raised from those in attendance. Accordingly, no action was taken on these renewals.
Discussion of and possible vote on resolution regarding application for historic designation of C&P Building at 4268 Wisconsin Ave NW
The Historic Preservation Review Board is scheduled to consider an application for historic designation of the C&P Building. In support of the application, Jane Waldman, president of the Tenleytown Historical Society, stated that the C& P Building is a classical Art Deco building worthy of historic designation. Commissioner McHugh countered that the building had gone through a number of renovations, there is a finer example of an Art Deco style telephone building already listed, and he has reservations supporting the historical designation without input from the owners. Commissioner Bender noted that during the renovation and expansion of Janney Elementary School, the school’s historic designation limited the design options and impinged on the needs of the children and the school. He also had reservations about supporting historic designation without owner input. Commissioner Wallace also expressed concern about the due process afforded the building’s owner. Commissioner Wallace offered an amendment to the draft resolution. Commissioner McHugh moved and Commissioner Bender seconded a motion to approve the resolution as amended. The motion was approved 5-0-0.
Discussion of and possible vote on resolution regarding application for special exception for two-story garage addition at 4831 Alton Place NW
The applicant requested to have the hearing date postponed and, accordingly, it was removed from the agenda.
Presentation by Valor Development regarding traffic management at the proposed mixed-use project at the Superfresh site
Will Lansing of Valor Development stated that Valor has submitted an application for a Design Review for a mixed-use project that Valor has named the Lady Bird. A hearing date has been set for February 2, 2017.
Erwin Andres with Gorove Slade Associates, the traffic analysis firm retained by Valor, presented initial data from their traffic management study. He noted that the project would eliminate the existing curb cuts on Yuma and 48th Streets and that access to the garage for cars and delivery trucks would be through a widened alley running from Massachusetts Ave to Yuma St. behind the Spring Valley Shopping Center. Their study predicts that the grocery store planned for the Lady Bird project would generate significantly more trips to/from the site than the residential units. Traffic mitigation strategies could include, among other things, signal timing adjustments, changes to the traffic signals, pedestrian improvements and a HAWK light mid-block on Massachusetts Ave. The traffic study will be completed by mid-December.
Shelly Repp spoke on behalf of Citizens for Responsible Development. He stated that they would support a smaller building with fewer units and a smaller grocery store. Repp stated that CRD has engaged its own traffic consultant and asked that Valor share data from their study.
A number of questions were raised about parking. The project will provide approximately 460 parking spots with 150 designated for commercial/retail customers and the remaining split between residential parking spaces and spots for AU overflow parking. An attendee asked if parking can be implemented on both sides of Yuma Street to slow down traffic. Another attendee asked if Valor would be open to restricting tenants from obtaining Zone 3 parking permits. An attendee asked where residential delivery trucks (FedEx, USPS, etc.) and taxis would stop.
Commissioner Wallace noted that the traffic estimates presented focused on the inbound and outbound trips expected during peak morning and evening hours and asked about the total number of delivery trucks that site expected each day. Commissioner Quinn asked about problems with cars waiting to turn onto Massachusetts Ave and possible fixes. Commissioner McHugh pointed out that while people are focused on shuttle trips to the Tenleytown Metro station, there are bus lines on Massachusetts Ave that residents could use to get downtown. Commissioner Bender stated that people in his district want a grocery store in the neighborhood. He believes the number of trips could be a wash as residents would be driving through the neighborhood rather than out of the neighborhood to shop. He thinks that additional traffic calming measures may nonetheless be merited.
ANC Business
- Approval of October 2016 meeting minutes – Commissioner Bender moved and Commissioner Hall seconded a motion to approve the October 2016 meeting minutes. The motion was approved 4-0-0 with Commissioner Wallace not present to vote.
- Approval of expenditures – Commissioner Quinn moved and Commissioner McHugh seconded a motion to approve payments of $156.25 to Sherry Cohen for administrative support and $85.83 for copying, $37.86 to FedEx for copying and $1240 to Tenleytown Main Street for their Winterfest Grant. The expenditures were approved 3-0-0 with Commissioners Hall and Wallace not present to vote.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 PM