Tuesday night’s meeting of ANC6B. L-R Commissioners Jerry Sroufe, Chander Jayaraman, Frank D’Andrea, Chair Edward Ryder, and Commissioner David Sobelsohn.
Way Cleared for Taco Bell to Open on Barracks Row
by Larry Janezich
Posted June 12, 2024
Last night, ANC6B voted unanimously clear the way for Taco Bell to open up shop at 411 8th Street, SE. A vote on a motion to support an exception to the ban on fast food restaurants on Barracks Row will occur at a special meeting of the ANC on June 25th, immediately prior to the monthly meeting of the ANC’s Executive Committee. The vote was postponed to allow commissioners and public an opportunity to review a negotiated agreement between nearby neighbors and Taco Bell. If it is found satisfactory after review – which is likely – the ANC will sanction it and vote to support the exemption. The agreement will then become part of the Zoning Order granting the exception.
Final details of the agreement were nailed down since last Thursday in on-going negotiations between near-by neighbors led by 7th Street resident Linda Elliott and Taco Bell.. The final agreement includes a commitment from the owner of 411 8th Street not to lease the second floor of the building to another restaurant. Also, Taco Bell made additional commitments to mitigate trash issues, as well as odor, noise, and rodent problems as they arise.
The agreement won support and praise from the 7th Street neighbors whose properties back up to the restaurants on Barracks Row. Other near-by residents continued to urge the ANC to oppose the exception based on how the proliferation of fast food restaurants affect the character of the Eastern Market neighborhood and the inevitiable proliferation of trash that will result from the restaurant not offering in-store consumption. (&Pizza won an exception to the fast food ban by declaring itself “a fast casual restaurant” and providing indoor seating, but which essentially operates as a fast food carry-out restaurant.)
ANC Planning and Zoning Committee chair Frank D’Andrea said that he does not believe that ANC action could stop Taco Bell from opening – that the regulations list conditions for meeting the criteria for an execption, and if they are met, the BZA has to grant it.
ANC Commissioner David Sobelsohn in whose single member district the site resides, summarized the position the ANC finds itself in: that Taco Bell can’t be stopped by the ANC – if Taco Bell comes in over the opposition of the ANC it will be under restrictiions written by the BZA which are not likely to be as rigorous as those negotiated by the near-by neighbors – and for the ANC to say no, is merely symbolic.
The Special Meeting of the ANC will be virtual – information on how to join the meeting will be posted on Capitol Hill Corner on Sunday, June 23 in The Week Ahead.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 