Resolution regarding request for early hours construction at Chevy Chase Plaza (permit #B2101522 & D2100194)
WHEREAS
Representatives of the Chevy Chase Plaza (the Plaza) located at 5301 Wisconsin Avenue NW have reached out to ANC 3E seeking permission for its contractors to begin working on-site at 5AM rather than the standard allowable start time of 7AM[1] for one project within the underground parking garage scheduled to have begun on January 29, 2021 and another project within the office tower for work scheduled to begin on March 29, 2021 and estimated to run through May 21, 2021.
ANC 3E believes that the work itself is unlikely to impact adjacent residences but is concerned the early start time may attract additional traffic, parking and car idling on nearby residential streets as has happened with many other construction projects in our community.
Nearby residents have occasionally complained about noise from adjacent loading docks of the commercial buildings in the 5300 block of Wisconsin Avenue Pavilion which is located across an alley from adjacent single-family homes. Complaints about noise have concerned idling trucks and beeping from reversing trucks.
After these concerns were raised a representative from the Plaza has committed to:
Provide Parking within the Plaza for all contractors and any of their employees for the duration of this project to cover all working hours.
Monitor all deliveries associated with this project and require that any vehicles waiting to access the loading dock and any vehicles utilizing the loading dock will shut off their engines except as needed for entering and exiting the premises. The Plaza will also make every effort to ensure that no vehicles waiting to access the loading dock idle while parked on any adjacent streets or in the alley adjacent to the Plaza. Representatives of the Plaza will share with the ANC and any interested adjacent neighbors the telephone number for reaching someone with security who is empowered to intervene at any hour with non-compliant delivery drivers.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, ANC 3E supports the request from the Plaza to seek approval from DCRA to begin work at 5AM rather than 7AM provided that parking will be provided for all employees & contractors, that the loading dock will not be used before 7AM and that both projects will be wrapped up by May 21, 2021. Representatives of the construction company and the Pavilion committed to these conditions at ANC 3E’s public meeting on March 18, 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, ANC 3E’s on-going support of the 5AM start time is conditioned on adherence to the listed conditions and if ANC 3E is made aware of any non-compliance with the conditions will immediately submit evidence of the non-compliance to DCRA along with a letter asking for an immediate suspension of the earlier work hours.
ANC 3E approved this resolution at its meeting on March 18, 2021, which was properly noticed and at which a quorum was present. The resolution was approved unanimously by a vote of 5-0-0. Commissioners Jonathan Bender, Matthew Cohen, Amy Hall, Jonathan McHugh and Tom Quinn were present.
__________________________
ANC 3E
By Jonathan Bender, Chairperson
[1] https://dcra.dc.gov/service/noise-regulations-0
5301 Wisc Early Morning Construction Waiver 2
Draft Resolution 5301 Wisc Early Morning Construction Waiver