Monthly Archives: April 2018

Sroufe Sworn in for ANC6B02 Seat – Waud Certified as Sole Candidate for ANC6B07 Seat

By Larry Janezich

Jerry Sroufe was sworn in by Ward 6 Council Member Charles Allen as the new commissioner for ANC6B02 this morning, and Capitol Hill Corner confirmed that Kelly Waud was certified as the only candidate for the ANC6B07 seat.  Both were the only candidates for the unexpired terms – respectively – of commissioners Diane Hoskins (6B02) and Aimee Grace (6B07) who resigned earlier this year.  Waub could be sworn in in the next few days, in time for the next meeting of ANC6B on Tuesday, April 10.

Tomorrow afternoon both Waud and Sroufe and new commissioners from other ANCs will participate in an orientation briefing given by Gottleib Simon, Executive Director of the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

Here’s the FY 2019 Budget for Eastern Market Proposed by the Department of General Services

by Larry Janezich

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) is objecting to the flouting the law by Department of General Services in failing to submit the budget to EMCAC for input before presenting it to the City Council.

EMCAC Chair Donna Scheeder told City Council members that the document fails to break down the several sources of income and provides no information about what expenditures are needed for maintenance and capital improvement.  Scheeder told the committee that without out having access to current meaningful budget information, EMCAC has no way to advise whether the substantial rent increases for the South Hall merchants proposed by DGS are justified.

The Week Ahead….

By Larry Janezich

Monday, April 2

ANC6C Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente, 700 2^nd Street, NE.

Agenda items include.

Allure Lounge, LLC, 711 H Street, NE, Retailer’s Class “C” Tavern – Rooftop Garden / Settlement Agreement Discussion.

VBR Brewing Corporation d/b/a Red Bear Brewing Company, 1140 3rd Street NE, Retailer’s Class “C” Tavern New License Application.

Union Kitchen Grocery 538 3rd Street, NE, Retailer’s Class “B” – Discussion of Noise Issues.

Committee Co-Chair Election.

ANC6B Hill East Task Force meets at 7:00pm, at St. Coletta’s, 1900 Independence Avenue, SE. 

Agenda:

To hear a DDOT presentation on an updated traffic calming plan.

Washington Bach Consort – free “Capitol Cantatas” concert series continues at noon, St. Peter’s Church, 313 2^nd Street, SE. 

Tuesday, April 3

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm, at St. Coletta’s, 1900 Independence Avenue, SE.

Among items on the agenda:

445 15th Street, SE – special exceptions from the accessory building gross floor area limitations and from the accessory building rear setback.

1247 E Street. SE – two-year time extension of variance / restaurant use.

500 13th Street, SE – use variance / office use in the RF-1 Zone.

818 Potomac Avenue –  Paving: ADA Curb Ramp, Paving: Curb & Gutter(s), Paving: Driveway(s) New- Commercial, Paving: Leadwalk Only, Paving: Patio (porous concrete/pervious pavers ONLY), Paving: Sidewalk(s), Landscaping: Tree Planting, Projections: Areaway Entrance, Projections: Bay Window(s), Over Head Work: Streetlight(s) Installation.

816 Potomac Avenue, SE – concept/four-story side addition.

Letter to HPO regarding staff level review.

ANC6C Parks and Environment Committee meets at 7:00pm, at Kaiser Permanente, 700 2nd St NE, Room G2.

Among items on the agenda:

NoMA Parks Foundation – Stacie West will provide a status update on parks projects and underpass installations.

Save Good Food Amendment Act of 2017 and Residential Composting Incentives Act of 2017 – Catherine Plume from the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club will provide an overview of both legislations and ask for ANC resolutions in support.

Wednesday, April 4

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee meets at 7:00pm, North Hall, Eastern Market.

Agenda:

To advise DGS regarding its proposal to contract for the development of a strategic plan for the Eastern Market Special Use area.

ANC6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee meets at 7:00pm, at Northeast Library, 7th & D Streets, NE

Among items on the draft agenda:

219 E Street, NE – Application of Sons of Italy Foundation, for a special exception under the non-profit use provisions for an area variance from the gross floor continue a non-profit office use in the RF-3 District.

732 4th Street, NE– Application of Anthony Balestrieri for concept approval for rear and rooftop additions.

732 4th Street, NE– Application of Anthony Balestrieri, for a special exception from the lot occupancy requirements, to construct a three-story rear addition to an existing principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 Zone.

1139 6th Street, NE– Application of Kimberly Ziegler, for a special exception from the upper-floor addition requirements and from the lot occupancy requirements to construct a rear and third-story addition to an existing one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone.

Department of Buildings Establishment Act of 2018 – Discussion of legislation that would split the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) into two separate agencies, with the new Department of Buildings responsible for construction and zoning permitting and inspections, as well as enforcement of the housing code.

Rulemaking to amend the definitions for “attached,” “detached,” and “semidetached” buildings, as well as to amend the regulations concerning side yards.

Thursday, April 4

ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

Torai Grill & Sushi, Inc. t/a Torai Grill & Sushi, 751 8th Street, SE.

1420 Pennsy LLC t/a Trusty’s Bar – 1420 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Monkoor Corporation t/a S.E. Market – 1500 Independence Avenue, SE.

Wine Root, Inc. t/a New Congressional Liquor – 404 1st Street, SE.

ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm in Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2nd Street, NE, Room G3-G4.

Among items on the draft agenda:

NoMa Farmers Market – NoMa BID and Fresh Farm Markets are planning to start a farmers market at 1st and Pierce Street NE (on a private lot). They will be applying to occupy 10-15 of the metered parking spaces on 1st Street, and/or Pierce Street, between the hours of 7:30am and 3:00pm on Sundays from May-October.

CAVA Grill, 523 H Street, NE – Unenclosed Sidewalk Café Application for a new sidewalk café for a fast-casual restaurant. The applicant presented a preview of their application at the February committee meeting. At the time of the meeting an application had not yet been submitted. The café will be on the 6th St side of Cava and consist of tables with 2 or 4 seats for a total occupancy of 28. No ropes or fencing will surround the café, and a minimum 10 ft. clearance to the nearest obstruction (trees). There will be no awnings or umbrellas.  Alcohol is not served at this location.  Hours of operation will be 11am-10pm, 7 days a week.

Buredo, 111 K Street, NE, New Unenclosed Sidewalk Café – Application for a new unenclosed sidewalk café for a fast casual restaurant.  Hours of operation 11:00am – 10:00pm all week; 16 seats.

DDOT Budget Oversight Hearing April 24 – The Council Committee on Transportation & the Environment will hold a Budget Oversight Hearing on April 24 wherein the District Department of Transportation will testify. Our committee will discuss issues to raise with Council for the hearing.

Friends of Southeast Library meet at 5:30pm, Southeast Library, lower level.

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee Charges DGS With Flouting Law Budget Oversight Law

By Larry Janezich

Donna Scheeder, Chair of Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC), told City Council members last Monday that DGS – contrary to DC law – is not respecting EMCAC’s legal obligation to advise and provide oversight on Eastern Market’s budget.  Her statement came during testimony before CM Mary Cheh’s Budget and Oversight hearing on the Department of General Services.

According to Scheeder the law requires the Eastern Market Manager to submit the market’s budget to EMCAC prior to the start of each DC fiscal year budget cycle.  “You will note that you have no recommendations from EMCAC because there was no prior submission to EMCAC for review.  What is required in the legislation was not done,” she told the Committee.

Scheeder said EMCAC was told by DGS’s Market Manager by email, that the budget would have to remain internal until it is released to the City Council.  Scheeder added, “DGS’s refusal to follow (the law) is an affront to both our organization and the Council….”

On Friday, March 24, EMCAC did receive was a document designated “Mayor’s Proposed Budget for the Eastern Market Fund,” but, Scheeder said, the document fails to break down the several sources of income and provided no information about what is needed for maintenance and capital improvement expenditures – nor did it include any information about what was budgeted for 2018.  Scheeder told the committee that without out having access to current meaningful budget information, EMCAC has no way to advise whether DGS’s proposed substantial rent increases for the South Hall merchants are justified.

Other issues raised by Scheeder and EMCAC Secretary Monte Edwards include the failure of DGS to provide funds for capital improvements as required by law, DGS’s slow walking of EMCAC’s advice on the need to address security for the 7^th Street open air market – a target for terrorists, Scheeder said – and lack of clarity on DGS’s intent regarding funding for the prospective five year strategic plan.

CM Cheh responded, noting that she had heard the concerns of the South Hall merchants at an earlier oversight hearing on city agencies, adding, “I take it we’re not very good as government in managing operations – I will be talking to DGS about that.  We need to press for repairs and management to make this a good and effective market everybody seems to love.”

CM Allen responded, saying he wanted to focus on how to put together a strategic plan, asking, “Do I need to work with the Chair for funding?”  Scheeder told Allen, that EMCAC doesn’t know the status of any funding for the study, but before funding is allocated, “we need to have a stakeholder’s meeting to talk about the scope of the study and what needs to be included.”

Allen agreed that engaging the community would help chart a path forward and said he would follow-up with DGS Director Gillis about budgeting for the study and about EMCAC’s budget oversight role.

DGS has submitted a request for proposals regarding a strategic plan, but EMCAC has refused to consider it because their advice had not been sought on elements of the request.  See here:  http://bit.ly/2HPlMSg

EMCAC will hold a special meeting at 7:00pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market on Wednesday, April 4, to advise on the DGS proposal to contract for the development of a strategic plan for the Eastern Market Special Use area.