ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3-C
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Cathedral Heights ∙ Cleveland Park ∙ Massachusetts Ave. Heights ∙ McLean Gardens ∙ Woodley Park

Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes

May 19, 2003

I. Call to Order: Chair Nancy MacWood called to order Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC)’s regular monthly meeting for May 19, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting was held at the Community Room, Second District Police Station, 3320 Idaho Ave., NW, Washington, DC. Other commissioners present were Richard Bartel, Sheila Hogan, Sally MacDonald, Nancy Nord, Trudy Reeves, Kurt Vorndran and John Welsh.

II. Verification of Notice: Chair MacWood verified that the proper notice was published in the Northwest Current and posted on the Cleveland Park e-mail list and ANC3C website.

III. Establishment of Quorum: Chair MacWood acknowledged that a quorum (at least five members of the commission) was present.

IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: With minor adjustments, the agenda was approved without objection.

a. Chair MacWood explained that ANC3C was instituting a consent calendar for items such as liquor license renewals, and certain zoning and historic preservation review cases. She stated that only topics the commission felt were not controversial would be included. Consent calendar items will be posted on the ANC3C website. If anyone contacts the office by close of business on the Thursday prior to the monthly meeting raising concerns or objections to anything on the consent calendar, it will be moved onto the regular agenda.

This month’s consent calendar included liquor license renewals for: Burka’s Wine and Liquor, Idaho Avenue; 2 Amy’s, Macomb Street; and Papa’s Liquor, Macomb Street. Without objection, the consent calendar was approved.

b. Chair MacWood explained that Maret School, 3000 Cathedral Ave., NW, was applying to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) for concept approval of phase two of its master plan, including renovation of and an addition to the academic building. Maret School has already received approval from the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA), and Chair MacWood explained that ANC3C was considering the architectural concept for the second phase of the project, and that the ANC3C historic preservation committee has previewed the project.

Maret head of school Marjo Talbott explained that the school had come up with a master facility plan for the seven-acre campus, and BZA approved the plan 1998. Maret completed the first phase of the plan in 1999 and hope to begin the second phase in 2005.She stated the school is not changing its student enrollment or number of faculty members. Architect David Cox explained the phase two plan includes a new building of less than 40,000 square feet and a one-story addition to the existing academic building for a cafeteria expansion. In the front of the academic center building, a proposed bay element would replace the existing entrance portico. Mr. Cox stated they were working with the architecture of surrounding buildings in Woodley Park. The finished buildings will be white stucco with a prefinished metal roof, probably gray.

Commissioner Hogan asked if the architects had considered a green roof or other heat-reducing elements. Mr. Cox said they had considered sustainable architecture opportunities, and are using recyclable materials when available. He stated that they are still considering their options.

Ms. Talbott stated that due to a recent fire in the academic center building, Maret would be bringing in two trailers within the week to store art projects. She stated Maret had obtained the necessary permits.

Commissioner MacDonald stated she was impressed and pleased with Maret’s continuous meetings with adjacent neighbors, since they will be most affected by the remodel. Commissioner MacDonald also asked planners to consider stormwater runoff measures, since some homes on the Garfield Street side of 29^th Street have had water runoff problems in the past. Ms. Talbott reiterated that the project would not add any more pavement to the campus.

Resident Lars Hydle asked if Maret had any policy subsidizing public transportation for staff members, and Ms. Talbott said they did not but urge students and faculty to use public transportation. Commissioner Vorndran urged Maret officials to consider subsidizing public transportation for employees.

After further discussion, Commissioner MacDonald moved that ANC3C support the project that Maret is planning, stating that the support was merited particularly since the school has kept in communication with neighbors, and have taken into account architectural issues and stormwater drainage issues. Commissioner Vorndran seconded, and the motion was approved by a unanimous vote of 8-0. Chair MacWood announced that the October ANC3C meeting would be held at Maret in honor of the school’s 50^th anniversary, and thanked the school for accommodating them.

c. Chair MacWood stated that ANC3C would consider a concept approval application to HPRB for a project at 3519 Porter St., NW and adjoining lots. She stated that one lot already has a house on it, and two adjoining lots are vacant. Developers are proposing construction of a duplex on the vacant lots, and an addition to the existing building. Chair MacWood stated that the project was previewed at the historic preservation committee meeting.

Architects described plans to remove a porch from the existing house and putting on an addition. The architects are working with the historic preservation office to preserve a garage in the backyard. Architects plan to move the property line on the existing house lot five feet west, so that the two duplex lots would each be 25 feet wide. Architects stated that they’ve revised plans for the duplexes to make a much simpler façade to mix in with neighborhood.

Commissioner Reeves stated that she had looked at the property and wondered if a tree near the garage would have to come down to move the building. Architects stated that several trees would need to come down, but are preserving many along the property line and plan to plant more.

Chair MacWood suggested making the back addition smaller and leaving the garage where it was. Architects said that the zoning code seemed to require moving the garage, but would consider the suggestion.

Several residents along Quebec Street stated their concerns at the size of the duplexes and removal of trees. Architects stated they were trying to reduce the size without having to eliminate an underground garage. Chair MacWood stated that the structure still seemed large to her and suggested eliminating the underground garage.

Commissioner Welsh stated that he generally supported the design and appreciated architectural efforts to reduce the size. He proposed that ANC3C request a deferral from HPRB so ANC3C can address lot line, tree and size issues. Commissioner Welsh introduced and read a resolution, and Commissioner Hogan seconded. Chair MacWood offered a friendly amendment, and Commissioner Welsh accepted. Commissioner Reeves offered a friendly amendment and Commissioner Welsh accepted. Architects asked to meet with commissioners to work on concerns. Resolution 2003-016 passed by a unanimous vote of 8-0.

a. Chair MacWood introduced D.C. Councilmember Phil Mendelson. Councilmember Mendelson stated that the council finished its work on the budget, and had reduced proposed spending in order to avoid any tax increases. The council also avoided the mayor’s proposed cuts to libraries and the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, and level-funded public schools. Councilmember Mendelson stated that the council reduced the proposed growth in spending by about $40 million, and added a directive that the mayor has to submit a budget next year that shows growth of no more than 3.5 percent.

Councilmember Mendelson stated that the council is frustrated with the way the police department is managing its budget. Councilmember Mendelson stated he was the only councilmember who would not support a pay raise for Police Chief Charles Ramsey, saying that a 17 percent pay raise was not justified after five years on the job. He said that civil liberties, homicide closure rates, victim support services and call center issues all needed to be addressed.

Commissioner Hogan stated that she hoped the council was aware of harassment issues within the environmental crimes unit, with officers harassing people who complained about illegal dumping and other issues.

Councilmember Mendelson informed commissioners he had introduced a bill to amend the alcoholic beverage control statute to make it clear that an ANC has the right to great weight as an affected ANC, not just as the ANC in which the issue is located. He stated that the bill is pending in the committee on consumer and regulatory affairs. Chair MacWood thanked him for attending.

b. Chair MacWood stated that the owners of the Woodley Park Guest House had applied to HPRB for approval for an addition. The building is located at the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Woodley Road. The owner stated that the addition would include a second egress so that they would be able to remove existing fire escapes. They also planned to add an elevator to comply with ADA requirements. The three-story addition would add a net two rooms, and make the existing living room larger. He stated the owners have presented their plans to neighbors.

Commissioner MacDonald stated that the community is generally supportive of the plan. She commended the owners for working from original plans of the building to restore it. Commissioner Vorndran introduced a motion stating that ANC3C had no objection to the project. Commissioner MacDonald seconded, and Commissioner Vorndran called the question. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of 8-0.

c. Commissioner Vorndran introduced and moved a resolution regarding the Oyster Bilingual Elementary School. Commissioner MacDonald seconded. Commissioner Vorndran stated that he believed the school can have a quality bilingual program and still be a neighborhood school. He stated that in-boundary students are currently the minority in the school. In addition, he stated that 20 percent of in-boundary students are Spanish speakers. Commissioner Vorndran stated the goal of the resolution was to ensure the neighborhood is part of the conversation regarding the nature of Oyster. Commissioner Vorndran called the question, and Resolution 2003-014 passed by a unanimous vote of 8-0.

d. Commissioner Nord introduced a resolution suggesting a stop sign at the intersection of Garfield and 35^th streets. She stated there was a strong consensus among neighborhood residents that this is an unsafe intersection. Commissioner Nord stated that she hoped the resolution would encourage the D.C. Department of Transportation to consider the situation. Transportation committee co-chair Peter Espenscheid stated that he would like the issue to be considered by the committee first. Chair MacWood said that since Commissioner Nord had met with the community, a committee meeting could be avoided. Commissioner Hogan seconded, and Resolution 2003-015 passed by a vote of 7-0, with Commissioner Bartel abstaining.

e. Commissioner Hogan stated she had invited representatives of the Sikh Cultural Society to attend in order to discuss progress on the construction of a temple on Massachusetts Avenue, but they were not able to attend. Commissioner Hogan stated she had not received a construction management plan, which the group had agreed to provide. It was agreed that Commissioner Hogan would formally invite representatives to attend the June ANC3C meeting.

f. Commissioner Bartel stated that the ANC3C public safety committee would hold a meeting at 7 p.m. May 28 at the Second District Police Headquarters to discuss a proposed reconfiguration of police service areas (PSA). Commissioner Bartel noted that ANC3C had already passed a resolution asking that PSA 204 be aligned with ANC3C boundaries. Chair MacWood referred the issue to the public safety committee at Commissioner Bartel’s suggestion.

a. Secretary’s Report – Chair MacWood moved approval of the April 2003 minutes in place of Commissioner Hahn. Commissioner Nord seconded. With minor changes, the minutes were approved unanimously.

b. Treasurer’s Report – Commissioner Welsh stated he would be sending in the second quarter fiscal documents to the D.C. auditor within two weeks. He distributed draft fiscal year 2003 quarter documents. Chair MacWood thanked him for the report.

a. Transportation Committee – Commissioner Reeves stated that public meetings on proposed changes to traffic circulation on Rock Creek Parkway would take place this week. It was decided the transportation and environmental committees would meet to discuss the proposed changes.

Without objection, the May 2003 meeting of ANC3C adjourned at 11:05 p.m.