ANC6C Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday night. One of the items on the agenda was a discussion of the commercialization of residential properties in ANC6C.
ANC6C Prepares to Engage on Commercialization of Residential Buildings
by Larry Janezich
October 5, 2023
Wednesday night, the ANC6C Planning and Zoning Committee laid the ground work for the full commission to join ANC6B in pressing the Department of Buildings (DOB) to enforce zoning laws which prohibit residential properties from being primarily used for non-residential purposes. Residences in both ANCs have been bought up by corporations, non-profits, and political organizations and are being used for office and/or event space. Residents of ANC6B have identified 22 residential buildings on or near New Jersey Avenue, SE, owned by corporations who use them for commercial purposes. Last week, CM Charles Allen joined residents for a walking tour of some of these properties, led by ANC6C Commissioner Jay Avery. Allen has been pressuring Brian Hanlon, the new Acting Director of DOB, to enforce the zoning regulations. Hanlon’s confirmation hearing is coming up on October 18.
The issue has been simmering since last July in ANC6C. At least two constituents have pushed the Commission to respond to a complaint on commercialization sent to them months before and pointed to actions being taken by ANC6B.
As the result, the issue was placed on ANC6C’s agenda for discussion at Wednesday night’s monthly meeting. Commissioner Joel Kelty led the discussion, saying he had researched the issue and believes that concerns residents had brought to the ANC are valid and that it is worth the ANC taking a position. His feeling, he said, is the ANC should send a letter to the Department of Buildings and the Office of Tax and Revenue highlighting the use of residentially zoned …. Properties for commercial use and request they take enforcement action.
Kelty told the Commission, “I believe our fundamental role in government is to be a conduit between people and their government and I am trying to fulfill that role. I think there is a valid zoning regulation complaint here and … my only interest is in ensuring the zoning regulations are upheld. And if we’re not going to uphold them, we should get rid of them.”
Commission Chair Mark Eckenweiler asked,”What specific complaint can be made? … We know things are going on but it’s murky – and you’ll never get action on things that are murky.”
Kelty said he would be willing to identify properties in 6C if the ANC is interested in filing a complaint regarding non-residential use. Eckenwiler said he would support that.
Kelty was joined by Commissioner Jay Adelstein who said he wholeheartedly agreed with Kelty and pointed to a recent ANC6B resident walk-through of residences owned by lobbyists and non-profits on New Jersey Avenue, SE, led by Councilmember Charles Allen and ANC6B Commissioner Frank Avery. Adelstein said, “I see no reason why we can’t object to it generally and allow constituents to point out if there’s any objectionable issue.”
Resident committee member Drury Tallant agreed, saying, “If we … come up with a couple of good ones, then yes. We absolutely should … leverage the city to enforce the laws so people don’t have to live next door to a business.”
Eckenweiler said, “If we can identify objectionable property use for specific properties let’s work that. Maybe it’s a walk through with a councilmember – maybe Jake Stolzenberg (Ward 6 Mayor’s representative) …We need targets. Something specific,”
Kelty said he work and come back to the committee with something specific and welcomed help from other commissioners. The normal procedure will entail further discussion by the committee followed by a vote to forward any agreed-upon letter or resolution to the full commission. The full ANC would then consider and vote on sending the language to city officials.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 