Minutes for January 2003

Chair John Finney called the meeting of ANC3D to order at 7:18 PM on  Wednesday January 8, 2003.  Returning Commissioners present:  Hamilton and Heuer.  New Commissioners present:  Gates, Mullane, Polk and Shapley. 

The first order of business was the swearing in of the Commissioners by the Honorable Greg Mize.  Next, the election of officers.  The following officers were elected unanimously for the coming year.  John Finney, Chair; Alma Gates, Vice- Chair; Sarah Shapley, Secretary and Ann Heuer, Treasurer.

Community Concerns: 

  • George Watson recently found out that his block (4300 Cathedral Avenue) is no longer in 3D01.  It is now in 3D08 which includes the Towers and other large apartment complexes.  There is no representative on the ANC for this SMD and Mr. Watson is going to make an effort to find someone for the Commission.

  • There is no military protection around the reservoir and there is concern that poison could be added without anyone’s knowledge that could affect everyone in this area.  Chair Finney is going to write a letter to Tom Jacobus of the Army Corps of Engineers to enlist his aid to get assistance from WASA.

  • Several neighbors complained that trees are falling down on Rodman Street, leaf collection is behind; There is an illegal left turn up Mass. Avenue by Crate and Barrel, a sign needs to be placed there.  Since the closing of the Safeway on MacArthur Blvd.  many elderly residents or those without cars have nowhere to shop.  It has been proposed to have a shuttle bus to other Safeway’s twice a week. 

  • Lt. Sullivan of the second district police station gave a crime report.  Crimes in this area have been centered around AU.  Many students come from small towns where they don’t lock doors or practice safety measures.  Laptops and other items have been stolen from cars and dorms.  She encouraged everyone once again, to make sure all doors of cars are locked and no valuables are left in sight.

Street Lights in Spring Valley

Muhamad Khalid, Project manager, Street projects in Ward 3 and Colleen Smith, DDOT came before the Commission to talk about the street light problems in Spring Valley. Many neighbors have complained about the number of new streetlights that are planned for their particular blocks. After a slide presentation, Mr. Khalid and Ms. Smith spoke about the Series Circuit Conversion Project, which will take five months and will convert all streetlights to High Pressure sodium lights (these will last five-six years rather than the current lights which last no more than six months). Another benefit of the conversion is that each light is controlled individually, thus eliminating the “Christmas light blink-out problem people have experienced.  Twelve locations in Spring Valley are involved in this project whose contract is on hold until the Dept. and the Commission can find a design that is mutually feasible and satisfactory.  Chair Finney offered a resolution, which was seconded by Commissioner Heuer and passed 7-0-0 to delegate Commissioners Hamilton and Shapley to work with neighbors and Mr. Khalid.  The purpose for this would be to see if changes to Options 1 or 2 are possible.  Option 1 was to Stick with poles staggered on either side of the street but lower individual lamp wattage from 150 to 100 watts.  , Option 2 was to place the new poles only on one side of the street, but stay with 150 watts.  A show of hands of neighbors indicated they preferred option 1.  This information needs to be received by DDOT by January 17th.

It was agreed that the Commissioner would work with Mr. Khalid and his staff to resolve this question in a week, having set a deadline of Jan. 17th so as not to put the DC government in danger of an adverse penalty claims action by the contract.  The possibility of an Option 3 to be designed was also raised.  Mr. Khalid apologized for not having consulted with the ANC before this particular project was undertaken and pledged to do so for future phases of the city's upgrade of street lighting in our ANC area.

The city aims to upgrade both the circuitry and the lighting for both economical and environmental improvement and to achieve better security for citizens with an overall 40% increase in the area's 'luminescence".  The city complies with the nationally recognized AASHTO standards for the amount of lighting for different parts of the city (residential, commercial) and would face liability if it did not bring a sub-standard area, such as this part of Spring Valley, up to standard.

Neighbors from Indian Lane, Fordham Road and Overlook Road discussed their
objections to these new, bright lights that are so close together. However, it was stated that Rockwood Parkway is a "collector street", which has a higher lighting standard than "local streets".

 Laverock Terrace Building Plans- Architects for the proposed development of this small triangular area presented their plans.  There will be four semi-detached houses and one detached.  Two of the semi detached face macArthur and two face Laverock Place.  The detached is at the bottom of the depression. Since much of the area is in a depression there would probably be serious runoff problem until the water reached the natural runoff at the back of the property.  Since the developers have not yet even applied for a building permit, ANC3D voted 7-0-0 to send a letter to Bob Kelly at DC Government stating that we do not support this plan as it now stands.  Commissioner Finney charged the task force on Zoning (chaired by Alan Aiches) to look at it and to come back to the February meeting with their conclusions.  Commissioner Polk also suggested that the architects take their plans to the Foxhall Citizens Association and the Palisades Community Association prior to ANC3D making any further decisions.

Discussion of a traffic calming study on Chain Bridge Road – Dick England, a resident of Chain Bridge Road has obtained the signatures of most of his neighbors for such a study.

ANC3D endorses this study and will submit a letter to support it. (Attachment B)

 There was a brief discussion about a proposed site in ANC3D for a 9/11 memorial.  While no one could think of an appropriate spot owned by the City, it was suggested that a triangle of land at the intersection of Loughboro and Foxhall Roads might be appropriate even though the National Park Service rather than the City owns this. The vote was 7-0-0 to send this letter. (Attachment C)

There was a discussion about proposed amendments to zoning code dealing with building permits. The proposed amendment was passed 7-0-0 and was sent to the Zoning Commission. (Attachment D)

There will be a meeting at EPA on January 21 dealing with flushing of sediments by Dalecarlia Water Works.  Chair Finney has offered to represent ANC3D at this meeting and by a voice vote of 7-0-0 he was approved to attend.

The Commissioners approved, by a vote of 7-0-0 to participate in the Advisory Neighborhood Commission Security Fund for calendar year 2003.  The Commissioners unanimously adopted the following resolution: "Resolved that this Commission (ANC3D) approves the ANC's participation in the Advisory Neighborhood Commission Security Fund and authorizes the Treasurer to pay the requisite $25.00 fee for the period January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003.  The Chairperson and Secretary are authorized to
execute the attached agreement."

Treasurer’s Report – there is currently a balance of  $5,764.86 in the Bank of America checking account.  We are overdue our allotment from October, another is due in January and the first quarter accounting for FY03 will be presented at the February meeting.  The auditor and Gottleib Simon have been contacted concerning these delays and there were several reasons given (none of which were the fault of ANC3D).  A new Chief Financial Officer came in and wanted to wait to receive all ANC’s quarterly reports before issuing checks; approval of the DC budget by Congress etc.  

Minutes from the December meeting were presented and approved 7-0-0.

The next meeting of ANC3D will be held on February 5, 2003.

It was mentioned that all should go to our new website at www.anc3d.org which is up and running (partially).

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah Stowell Shapley
Secretary