CAPITOL HILL CORNER

Stanton-Eastbanc Files Latest Hine Plans and Zoning Change Request Today – Community Group Organizes on Hine Re-Zoning Process

by Larry Janezich

On Monday night, ANC 6B hosted the first meeting of its special Subcommittee to deal with the Hine Redevelopment re-zoning request – part of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process.  The PUD process is designed to overcome existing zoning requirements, giving the community an opportunity to make changes in the development in exchange for those variances.  The Subcommittee is chaired by ANC6B Commissioner Ivan Frishberg, with Commissioner Brian Pate serving as Vice Chair.   

The Committee brings together ANC 6B Commissioners with representatives of CHRS, EMCAC, CHAMPS, Eyes on Hine, Hine School North Neighbors, and EMMCA.  Former ANC 6B Commissioner Ken Jarboe is also part of the group.

Stanton Eastbanc is expected to file their request for the zoning change with the Office of Planning today.  This will be a massive document containing the latest project drawings and specifications.  Hard copies of the document will be limited, though the Subcommittee will insist that the developers provide a copy for Southeast Library, and it will be available on line, with links from the ANC website. 

The process will culminate in negotiations involving concession (changes in design), amenities (gifts to the public), and mitigation (palliative measures).  The entire negotiation is designed to compensate the community for the impact of the increased density which the $300 million project will bring to the Eastern Market neighborhood.  The PUD process will necessitate months of meetings involving the developer, the community, and the Office of Planning; these will culminate in a final hearing next spring where the Zoning Commission will hear from the public.

The Subcommittee is working on the assumption that the final Zoning commission hearing will be next May.

Vice Chair Pate outlined suggested operational procedures for the Subcommittee involving an initial organizational phase, an outreach phase including an ANC Special Call meeting, negotiation with the developer regarding mitigation and amenities beginning in January, and the formulation of a final position to take to the Zoning Commission.

At the meeting, several working groups were appointed.  One will be a technical working group to dissect the PUD filing; another will be an outreach group to engage the community; another group will address specific aspects such as transportation, construction management and maintenance of the flea market; and a final group for financial analysis. 

In a separate action, CHRS will hold a public meeting on December 12 for Stanton Eastbanc to make a presentation to the community on the PUD filing.  The next meeting of the ANC 6B Subcommittee will be on December 14.

DC Lottery Hosts Public Meeting on Internet Gambling in North Hall on Monday Night

Ward Six Representatives Attack Process of Enactment of DC Internet Gambling Law

DC Lottery Seeks Community Support in Ward Six Meeting

by Larry Janezich

More than 60 people turned out Monday night for DC Lottery’s last in a series of public meetings to assess public support for legalized internet gambling (iGaming) in DC.  The meeting held in Eastern Market’s North Hall was hosted by DC Lottery, the sponsor of iGaming, and was attended by Councilmembers Tommy Wells and Michael Brown.

iGaming typically refers to websites where players wager money on games of skill or chance such as Blackjack, Bingo, and Poker.  Last December, the DC Council adopted language as part of the Budget Act that authorizes the DC Lottery to offer iGaming via the internet within the District.  Councilmember Michael Brown sponsored the iGaming initiative; Councilmembers Wells and Mendelson have introduced legislation to repeal the measure.

In opening remarks, Wells made clear that iGaming is gambling and said it would not result in many new jobs for the District.  Stating that the Monday night meeting was not part of the Council’s process and not a substitute for a hearing, he noted that proper process was not followed by the Council in approval of the law.  Wells asked for a show of hands, which revealed that Ward Six residents were a minority of those present.  One Ward Six resident who attended the meeting said that all of the non-Ward Six attendees who spoke were in favor of iGaming. 

Councilmember Michael Brown put forward the legislation as an amendment to the Budget legislation last December, circumventing the public hearings typically required for such legislation.  ANC6B Chair Neil Glick, a strong critic of the process by which the measure became law, believes, that this maneuver was “not democracy,” adding that the “last time I checked we live in a democratic society.”  Glick said he would introduce a resolution opposing iGaming in DC for a vote at ANC6B’s December meeting. 

Though Councilmember Michael Brown has justified his support of iGaming as a means of raising badly needed revenue, critics say that Brown’s anticipated annual revenue of up to $6 million from iGaming is inflated.  DC Lottery says iGaming will be available only within DC boundaries in businesses such as bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels, but not in public buildings like schools, libraries, or federal buildings.

This Week ……..

Monday, November 21

DC Lottery Board Ward 6 iGaming Meeting.  6:30pm – 8:30pm.  Eastern Market North Hall. 

Monday, November 21

ANC6B’s Sub-Committee on the Hine Redevelopment Project will hold an organizational meeting to discuss the Subcommittee’s approach the Planned Unit Development process for the Hine Project. 7:00pm. 3d floor conference room of The Hill Center. 

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

ANC6B Outreach and Constituent Services Task Force meeting. 7:00pm. 3rd floor conference room of The Hill Center.

Possible New Location of Info Hub Is in Red. Bike Racks, Orange. The Metro Is Marked in Blue.

Info Hub and EM Metro Plaza Plans Continue to Evolve

Bike Storage Upgrade Is Likely

by Larry Janezich

Chuck Burger, CHRS Board member, told the Restoration Society Board Tuesday night that major developments on the Info Hub proposed for Eastern Market Metro Plaza had taken place in the last 30 days.  A final design and final drawings are expected shortly – it is likely the structure will shrink by ten feet to provide a better fit into a new location and to bring it into scale with its surroundings. 

CELEBRATE the nonprofit foundation created by members of CHAMPS to promote commercial development on the Hill, has commitments for $50,000 in contributions to cover three years of operating costs for the Hub.  DOT required CELEBRATE to raise the funds before DOT will move ahead with the project.  Fund raising by CELEBRATE will be an ongoing process, since the estimated annual operating costs for the Hub have increased from $16,000 to $20 – $22,000.  Once a memorandum of understanding (MOU) is reached with the community regarding the operation of the Info Hub, DOT can issue a request for proposals (RFP) which will initiate the contracting process.   CELEBRATE anticipates that this will be the first of several projects to promote the Pennsylvania Avenue and Barracks Row commercial corridor. 

Burger described ideas in play for the plaza to make it more useable for the community – emphasizing that nothing is set in stone.  Major changes for bike storage look likely.  According to Burger, the so-called “bike coffins” at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street are unsightly and underused.  One proposal would relocate the secure bike parking from that corner to the triangle between Dunkin’ Donuts and Pennsylvania Avenue.  WAMATA insists on secure storage for 15 – 20 percent of the bike parking.  One suggestion to address this requirement involves a cage facility accessed by a time card that would permit short term 48 hours storage.  Bikes racks for additional parking may be placed across from the Library and surrounded with greenery.  Additional bike racks might roughly parallel the Bikeshare rack on Pennsylvania Avenue, but lie closer to the Info Hub. 

CELEBRATE fully supports ANC6B’s request to redo the landscape.  ANC6B expects that a formal request to DOT for Performance Parking Funds for this purpose will be forthcoming.  Some of the details being discussed for the landscaping plan involve raising the planting areas and surrounding them with low walls 12 to 30 inches high, some of which could provide seating for plaza users.  An underground irrigation system is being discussed to water the new landscaping, as is incorporating a rain garden into the design. 

DOT has agreed to fund the $180,000 Info Hub from Performance Parking Funds designated to be returned to the community for non-automotive transportation projects.   Burger said that an advisory board – comprised of representatives of Capitol Hill BID, the CHRS and other stakeholders, will oversee the operation of the Info Hub.

Councilmember Michael Brown: "I Saved Ward Six."

Councilmember Michael Brown Pays ANC 6B A Visit

by Larry Janezich

The highlight of last Tuesday night’s ANC 6B meeting was the appearance of At-Large DC Councilmember Michael Brown, who wasted little time in claiming credit for keeping Hill East within Ward 6 in the recent redistricting battle.  “I saved Ward 6,” Brown stated flatly, an assertion that seemed to rankle ANC Commissioner Campbell, who challenged Brown by expressing his concern about losing Reservation 13 to Ward 7.  Brown responded by saying that he “didn’t do anything that the Councilmember [for the relevant ward] didn’t want done,” implying that Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells approved, if only tacitly, of the transfer. 

Asked what his vision was for Reservation 13, Brown downplayed reports of a Redskins training camp for the site saying he favored multi-use or mixed-use projects, including shopping, retail, and green space – ways in which the community will benefit and the District will get tax revenues.  He noted that the area constituted the largest undeveloped plot of land in the District of Columbia.

Regarding the contentious proposal to extend the boundary of ANC6C to Independence Avenue at the expense of ANC6B, Brown said the City Council will hold hearings and have to decide whether to take the recommendations of the Ward Six Redistricting Task Force.  Wells – against the Task Force recommendation – supports an East Capitol boundary for ANC6C. 

In other business, repentant Department of Transportation Public Space manager Matthew Marcou appeared before ANC 6B to acknowledge that the process for licensing use of public space permits was being revised to provide “better coordination, apparently an acknowledgment that the recent licensing of the 18^th Amendment sidewalk café without ANC 6B input suffered from a lapse in just such a process.  Public Space Inspections Chief Elliott Edwards said complaints about public space use are inspected by his office within 72 hours.  ANC Commissioners did not seem prepared to take the initiative in reporting what appear to be violations of public space use by sidewalk cafes on Pennsylvania Avenue and 8^th Street, SE.  Concerned citizens should call 311 to report violations.  

The Commission also took the following actions: 

Supported the new beer and wine license request for Pound;

Approved the creation of a Subcommittee on the Hine Redevelopment Project;

Agreed to send a request to Protective Services Police Department requesting regular reports on crime statistics for incidents taking place on Reservation 13, noting that the lack of data obscures the true picture of crime trends in the neighborhood and makes it easier for DC government to continue to increase social services provided at Reservation 13.

DOT Preemptive Approval of 18th Amendment's Sidewalk Cafe Ruffles ANC Feathers - Lax Enforcement of Regulations Also an Issue

ANC6B Calls Out DOT Officials For Usurping ANC’s Authority – Chair Neil Glick Requests Officials Appear Tuesday To Explain Preempting ANC

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday night, Matthew Marcou, Deputy Project Manager, DC Department of Transportation, and others will appear before ANC6B responding to a request from Chair Neil Glick.  At issue is the ANC’s authority over the administration of public space, which ultimately comes under the DC Department of Transportation, but only after review and recommendation by the appropriate ANC..  Glick’s request came because at ANC6B’s October meeting ANC6B found that the DOT Public Space Committee had approved a public space permit for a sidewalk café for the 18^th Amendment – the bar/restaurant at 613 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE – before the permit request had come before the ANC.  ANC6B is taking umbrage at this preemption of its authority, hence Marcou’s appearance to explain how it happened.  Glick said at the October meeting, “I don’t believe they know how bad the process is.” 

Marcou may also get some tough questions concerning another matter raised by a resident attending the October meeting, on the lax enforcement of public space regulations which require six feet between a sidewalk café and a tree box.  A walk down Pennsylvania Avenue at lunch time shows infringements on public space at several establishments. 

ANC6B will meet on Tuesday at 7:00pm at the Hill Center.

Traffic Control Cameras Coming to Capitol East’s 17^th Street Speedway? – MPD Gears Up For New Year With $1M in New Photo Traffic Enforcement Equipment

by Larry Janezich

ANC6B’s Transportation Committee, Chaired by Kirsten Oldenburg, has approved a recommendation from ANC6B Commissioner Brian Flahaven that the full ANC6B urge MPD to deploy new mobile-enhanced photo enforcement equipment to address speeding on 17^th Street, SE.  The recommendation would come in the form of a letter from the ANC to MPD’s Photo Enforcement Program.  The full ANC will take up the matter at its November meeting at Hill Center next Tuesday night, at 7:00pm. 

Speeding on 17^th Street, SE, is a long standing problem.  The street is heavily trafficked by commuters travelling from East Capitol to Barney Circle, SE, to connect with the Southeast/Southwest Freeway.  Only two stoplights – at Massachusetts Avenue, SE, and Potomac Avenue, SE – slow them down.  Speeding up to make the light at Potomac Avenue has resulted in a number of major accidents.  At Flahaven’s request, MPD surveyed traffic on 17^th Street, and agrees a problem exists. 

A letter to the Photo Enforcement Program encourages deployment of speed monitoring cameras at the following 17^th Street intersections: 

Massachusetts Avenue, SE;

Potomac Avenue, SE;

Barney Circle, SE;

Independence Avenue, SE.

MPD is working to finalize procurement of the new mobile-enhanced photo enforcement equipment, which will include the following: 

Portable cameras capturing intersection violations (speeding, red light running)

Portable cameras capturing stop sign violations

Portable cameras capturing crosswalk violations at un-signalized intersections

Laser-based speed enforcement equipment for tunnels and hills

Overweight commercial vehicle and truck detection equipment

Since the expenditure for this new equipment will exceed $1 million, the DC City Council must approve before a contract can be signed.  According to Flahaven, Councilmember Wells believes this is a straightforward request which should get easy approval.  Flahaven said, “While MPD can give no assurances, they think 17^th Street is a prime candidate for the new equipment.”  Their goal is to deploy the new equipment early in 2012.

Pound Seeks Beer and Wine License

Pound Seeks Beer and Wine License – Will Offer Full Dinner Service in December

by Larry Janezich

Last Thursday night, ANC6B’s ABC Committee, chaired by Commissioner Carol Green, heard a request from Karl Johnson, one of the owners of Pound at 621 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, for a new beer and wine license.  Pound anticipates offering full dinner service seven days a week inside, in its private garden, and at the sidewalk café in front.  If all goes well, Johnson said, the dinner menu will be available the second week of December. 

Commissioner Ivan Frishberg – who lives behind the coffeehouse – requested that this issue be forwarded to the full ANC without recommendation pending his checking with nearby neighbors on a proposed 10:30pm closing time for the private garden.  Frishberg was optimistic the neighbors would sign off on this request.

La Plaza - As Envisioned

La Plaza - Current Version

La Plaza Expands – Adds Second Floor – 34 Seats

by Larry Janezich

Next Tuesday night, ANC 6B will be asked to approve Henry Mendoza’s application to add 34 seats and a second floor to La Plaza, at 629 Pennsylvania Avenue.  The popular Mexican/Salvadoran restaurant has a large attic and Mendoza wants to replace the plywood and concrete block with brick, add three windows, skylights and detailing at the roof line.  ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee recommended the full ANC approved the additions.  ANC6B will meet on next Tuesday at 7:00pm at the Hill Center to vote on the request. 

Although the Restoration Society has not considered the request, its Historic Preservation Committee is scheduled to consider it on Monday, and the Historic Preservation Board has put the request on its agenda for the November 17 meeting.

Tune Inn Reopens Today, Friday, November 4

by Larry Janezich

The Tune Inn reopened today, after the fire four and a half months ago that required renovation.  Much of the feel of the original place remains intact, and the Friday afternoon crowd comprised many of the regulars who welcomed the restaurants return from the ashes.