ANC3D MEETING MINUTES for March 2, 2005
The Chair, Alma Gates, called the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of ANC3D to order at 7:30 PM in Ernst Auditorium, Sibley Hospital. All Commissioners were present. There were 30 people present.
The first order of business was approving the Resolution to Appoint Jill Stern as Commissioner for ANC3D-03. The Resolution was read and approved 7-0-0.
The new Commissioner Stern took her place with the other Commissioners.
Police Report. Sgt. Anthony McElwee reported there have been 14 crimes in PSA 205 since the last report. The Police have issued a crime alert regarding thefts from autos.
On Reservoir Road and Foxhall, there have been a number of “smash and grabs” –
Sgt. McElwee urged citizens to remove everything from their cars when they park.
The police will be doing a traffic study at the proposed entrance to Dunmarlin at 2101 Foxhall Road. Sgt. McElwee testified before the BZA and stated the police feel an “on demand” traffic light would be necessary at the new entrance location.
New Ward 3 Planner. Melissa Bird can be reached at Melissa.Bird@dc.gov
She reported there will be a restructuring of the DC Comprehensive Plan and she asked for input from the Commissioners. She plans to attend meetings of ANC’s in Ward 3 and work closely with them on the new plan.
Patrick Carome gave an update on his appeal concerning the Economides home at 4825 Dexter Terrace. The first matter before the BZA was on the issue of “timeliness” and was heard on March 1. The BZA voted the Appeal was timely and to hear the Appeal on March 15 at 1:00 pm. He thanked the commission for their support in this matter. He noted that the Palisades Citizens Association, the Spring Valley-Wesley Heights Citizens Association and the Wesley Heights Historical Society had filed an Appeal with regard to a building permit that was issued to Frank Economides on December 20, 2004 that covered all unresolved transgressions in regard to his house at 4825 Dexter Terrace, NW.
Tom Jacobus, general manager of the Washington Aqueduct, gave an update on the environmental review currently being carried out to determine how best to remove alum-heavy by-products from the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant without discharging the sediment into the Potomac River. A draft environmental impact statement will be ready by the third week of April at which time public hearings will be held. The final draft impact statement will be ready by mid-June allowing time for comments from residents and
Officials in the community. Several alternatives have been suggested and have been ruled out: putting liquid into a pipeline to the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant in Southwest or construction of a monofill near Dalecarlia Parkway. Jacobus stated that
One of the alternatives being studied would involve building an on-site facility on the Federal property opposite Sibley Hospital, which would be dewatered and become a cake-like substance and would be trucked out of the site via several routes that are also under consideration. More information will be contained in the April draft report.
Gary Shilling, Project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers, presented the latest plans for removal and cleanup of remains on Lot 18 (located on the southwest edge of American University Campus near Rockwood Parkway homes). Shilling said that work was not going as quickly as had been expected due to the discovery of a bottle of Lewisite, a lethal chemical manufactured during WWI at the A.U. Experimental Station (AUES). Language put into the Appropriations Bill would require clean up of the site be complete by December 2005 but they will most likely not finish until March-April 2006. The Army Corps is looking for additional funds to complete the work at Lot 18 as the new timetable did not provide additional needed funding.
The priority right now, Shilling stated, is dealing with the most contaminated residential properties. Homeowners deserve to know their properties are safe and this part of the project should continue without effect from the new pressures brought by an expedited schedule for Lot 18. About 8 properties a year are being remediated. As less contaminated properties reach the top of the list it is hoped that more will be handled in one year.
Anyone with concern about issues in regard to this project may call
1-800-434-0988 for additional information.
Commissioner Ann Haas read Supplementary Conditions for the Proposed Phillips Park Development (Dunmarlin) in response to an additional BZA hearing, as the plans originally considered by the ANC have substantially changed. In light of this, the Commissioners voted 8-0-0 to send a letter to BZA asking that the case be returned to it for de novo review. If that is not possible, then the attached additional conditions (those read by Commissioner Haas), and those read into her testimony by the chair at the first BZA hearing, be considered by the BSA. (attachment)
Peter Barrett, Headmaster, St. Patrick’s Episcopal School, came before the Commission asking for support for a Special Exception to the BZA. St. Patrick’s wishes to add 10 additional students in 2006 and another 10 students in 2007 to its middle school at its facilities located at 4925 Ashby Street. It is also seeking a change in one of the conditions that would allow students to walk between campuses.
Mr. Barrett spoke of the improvements that had been made to the building. He said that the School had complied with all the conditions of the BZA Orders. Acceptances would begin in fall 2005 for school year 2006-07 and the next 10 would come in fall 2007.Mr. Barrett spoke extensively about the logistics of arrival and departure from the campus. He suggested that students might walk between Ashby Street and Whitehaven Parkway.
Some of the Commissioners and members of the community felt that an increase of 50 percent (20) additional students to the 40 now attending classes at this location would create a negative impact on the neighborhood. Also, lack of playground space, lunchroom and congestion of facilities were brought up as negative factors. The Zoning Board originally vetoed the school’s request for 60 students and Barrett stated that it was always clear that St. Patrick’s planned to come back to request additional students once it could be determined that the school could meet the conditions put forward in their BZA Order. He felt that that time is now.
After much discussion, Ann Heuer motioned to deny the application to increase the enrollment of St. Patrick’s at this time. Chair Gates seconded the motion, a vote was taken - four Commissioners voted to deny the application (Heuer, Haas, Gates and Stern); three were against (Mullane, Shapley and Hamilton) with Commissioner Thompson abstaining. 4-3-1.
A separate issue was raised concerning a majority for a vote. The bylaws of ANC3D currently state that a majority consists of half of the commissioners plus one. In this case, it would mean that a plurality of 5 would be necessary for a motion to carry. The chair will forward a letter to the BZA reporting the vote.
Another vote was taken concerning the children walking back and forth to the two campuses. “St. Patrick’s requests that students be permitted to walk between the two campuses with parental approval under certain circumstances.” This passed 7-1-0.
The minutes were read and approved with the change of number of people in the audience at February meeting from 15 as shown to 65 (as counted). 7-0-0.
Treasurer’s report was read. There is currently $23,358.24 in the Bank of America checking account.
The next meeting will be held April 6, 2005.
Respectfully submitted
Sarah Shapley
Secretary