Police Report. Lt. Paul Johnson said that 12 thefts from autos were reported in the past 30 days. Half involved stolen catalytic converters from Toyota Priuses manufactured in years 2007-09. He also reported one assault with a deadly weapon, which was domestic in nature and closed with an arrest. An altercation at Good Guys in the first hour of Monday, April 11, led to threats between patrons with guns brought into the establishment. MPD got photos and knows the suspects, but no arrests had been made at the time of the meeting.
Presentation by DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee about the Mayor’s proposed FY 2023 District budget. Mr. Ferebee highlighted items in the budget including $21 million for a capital project planned for Stoddert. He said the plans would accommodate enrollment of 519 (In February 2020, the enrollment was 505) and would be open in 2025. When residents pointed out that DCPS is projecting enrollment at Stoddert of 539 in 2025 and 619 at Stoddert for 2028-29 so the school would very quickly be over capacity, the Chancellor offered that there could be some room to increase the number of seats provided in the capital project, if that would fit within the $21 million budgeted. Ward 3 Board of Education member Ruth Wattenberg presented a different perspective, noting that the Stoddert neighborhood has the greatest demand for more capacity, so it would make sense to shift funds to Stoddert to add more seats there, and she would be visiting the school site with an architect to assess options for a larger addition. Asked about decisions regarding boundaries for the planned elementary school on Foxhall Road, the Chancellor said discussions with the community about boundaries for the new school should begin by the end of summer.
Presentation on proposed Medical Marijuana Dispensary (MMD) in Glover Park. Jessica Scholl from MHW Law Group representing JLan Solutions gave a presentation on the proposed Medical Marijuana Dispensary the company is proposing in Glover Park. If JLan is awarded the one available dispensary license in Ward 3, they would like to lease the space currently occupied by Laliguras. The deadline is May 12 for applicants for an MMD to submit information on their proposals, along with statements of support. If their application advances to the next stage with ABRA, placards would be issued, and notice given to the ANC and the public on June 17, with comments due by August 8. Ms. Scholl described the business models and the elaborate security procedures that are required for MMDs including that all product is kept in a vault until sold, security guards are on site, and cameras are mounted at all entrance/exit doors and within the dispensary itself. Because the dispensary would use the parking lot behind the Calvert Center, Commissioner Blumenthal had asked if the plan could include a cut-through corridor between the parking lot and Wisconsin Avenue, not within the dispensary but available for clients and the public. Ms. Scholl said that option was under consideration, if the space and security could be worked out.
DDOT Presentation on its New Design for Potential Bike Lanes on Tunlaw from 42nd to Calvert. Mike Goodno and Gilberto Solano from DDOT presented slides and renderings of a possible new design for installing protected bike lanes on Tunlaw Road north of Calvert Street, as well as improving safety at the intersections of Davis/Tunlaw, Fulton/Tunlaw and 39th/Tunlaw. They said that curb parking spaces between Calvert and Garfield Street would be reduced from 171 to 102 spaces including some new spaces in the 4000 block of Tunlaw. ANC 3B is posting the slides on its website for public comment. ANC 3B will gather comments, hold additional discussion, and vote on proposed designs at a future meeting. DDOT’s current schedule is to issue a Notice of Intent by late summer, collect comments and begin construction in fall 2022.
Resolution on zoning request to build a rooftop restaurant at the Glover Park Hotel, 2505 Wisconsin Avenue. At the March meeting, ANC 3B heard about the hotel’s application to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for zoning relief to allow it to open a restaurant with bar service on the roof. The hotel has reached a detailed agreement with Massachusetts Avenue Heights Citizens Association to resolve the concerns of neighbors living near the hotel in ANC3C. As a tradeoff, the outdoor patio restaurant will be closed. The hotel is part of Glover Park Main Street but not part of ANC 3B. The Commission voted unanimously to send a letter to the BZA supporting the project.
Resolution on renewing Glover Park Moratorium on new liquor licenses for taverns and nightclubs. The previous 5-year moratorium expired in February and ABRA allowed a 90-day extension to give ANC 3B time to ask for public comment. ANC 3B opened a public comment period and received 29 responses. Slightly more were in favor of lifting the moratorium, and all but one of those opposed to lifting the ban lived close to the commercial strip. With that response and the interest of Glover Park Main Street and the community in maintaining the balance on the commercial strip, providing time for businesses to recover the 3 years lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, and attracting new family-oriented establishments, the Commission approved a resolution asking ABRA to continue the current moratorium for 3 years. The vote was 4-1 with Commissioner Turmail voting to lift the moratorium.
Resolution on Zoning Special Exception for adding 2 units to 4-unit apartment at 4103 Davis Place NW. The owners made a presentation at the ANC 3B March meeting about the request to renovate the 4 unit apartment building, add two additional residential units in the cellar, and add a roof deck with a “penthouse” for mechanical equipment. The project meets all standards for the RA-1 zone, but DCRA requires all new residential development in that zone to get a zoning special exception. A BZA hearing on the case is scheduled on May 4. At the March meeting, the owners were asked to provide letters of support prior to an ANC vote at the April meeting. Owners Ash Rahimi and Jad Elmasri and their lawyer, Lawrence Ferris, provided those letters, and the Commission voted unanimously to support the project.
Resolution on request for DC to fund a feasibility study of a Senior Wellness Center in Ward 3. The Commission heard a presentation at the March meeting about the request for funds to be included in the District’s FY 2023 budget for a study of options, needs, and potential functions of a designated physicalSenior Wellness Center in the ward. (Wards 2 and 3 do not have a physical Senior Wellness Center.) Other ANCs in Ward 3 have adopted resolutions supporting funding for the proposed feasibility study. The Commission voted unanimously to approve a resolution asking the DC Council to fund the study.
Resolution on redistricting for ANCs and Single Member Districts (SMDs) in Ward 3. The Ward 3 Redistricting Task Force has developed recommendations for boundaries of ANCs and each Commissioner’s Single Member District (SMD), based on new population data from the 2020 Census. An ad hoc Neighborhood Voices coalition was formed to respond to concerns about the task force proposals going beyond adjusting for population changes and calling for splitting neighborhoods in several parts of Ward 3. The coalition developed its own proposed map, trying to respect existing neighborhoods and follow geographic boundaries and residential patterns. The Task Force recommends that ANC3B have 6 Commissioners, including one representing several blocks on the north side of New Mexico Avenue, west of Glover Archbold Park. The Neighborhood Voices map calls for 5 Commissioners in ANC 3B, mostly following existing SMDs, entirely east of Glover Archbold Park. The Commission voted unanimously to send a letter to the Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee supporting the Neighborhood Voices map.
Next Meeting: Thursday, May 19th