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The meeting was
called to order by Chair John Finney at 7:30 pm. Present were ANC3D
Commissioners Finney, Heuer, Shapley, Gates and Mullane with
Commissioners Hamilton and Polk arriving shortly thereafter. There were
about 27 in the audience.
1.0 Police Officers from PSA 203 gave a brief report. They
declared that there had been no extraordinary loss of power or
difficulties during the recent storms.
2.0 COMMUNITY CONCERNS There were no matters raised
by attendees.
3.0 Georgetown Reservoir Tom Jacobus, Director of the
Washington Aqueduct and Nathan Cole,Project Manager, gave a slide
presentation concerning the rehabilitation and renovation of the
Georgetown Reservoir. This is expected to be fully functional by May
2004. and will restore the streetscape as before. There will be a
Visitors Center. The co-operation between PEPCO and PGM during the
recent storms was exemplary. Questions were taken from both the
commission and the audience. (See Att. A)
4.0 Bike Trail Jack Koczela spoke about the bike trail
proposed to be built along Dalecarlia Parkway. It would be similar to
what is along the tow path. The plans have been sent to Dept. of
Transportation and to the Dept. of Parks and Recreation. There would be
crossings at the intersection of Canal Road and MacArthur Blvd. and also
at the Fletchers boat house. For more information he suggested going to
www.bikemap.com/dcbikeplan
5.0 BZA #17057, 5126 Fulton Street Mrs. Janet McCarthy of
5126 Fulton Street applied to the BZA (#17057) for an area variance
relief from the side yard and non-conforming structure provisions of the
Zoning Regulations to allow a rear screened porch to her home. It
would be an 11’x15’ addition and she does not plan to make any further
additions. It is 4’ away from one neighbor and 8’ away from another
neighbor. She had support in writing and in person from her neighbors,
and the Commissioners voted 7-0-0 to approve this application. (Att. B)
6.0 ABRA #50352, 4883 MacArthur Blvd. Barbara and Jeff
Black of Black’s Salt Fish Market and Café to be located at 4883
MacArthur Boulevard (ABRA #50352) came before the Commission to explain
their plans for this new restaurant/seafood market. The Blacks already
own two successful restaurants in Montgomery County and feel that this
area is perfect for what they plan to be a neighborhood
market/restaurant. There will be a seafood display upon entering the
restaurant and seating for 75 will be in the back. They need a liquor
license to be competitive with other restaurants in the area. They
envision that neighbors can pick up fresh fish at their place, walk
along MacArthur Blvd. and get a bottle of wine from Addy’s, a loaf of
bread from Marvelous Market and a video from Potomac Videos. The
Commissioners approved this application 7-0-0 after questioning the
Blacks about the hours of the restaurant, delivery hours and location of
delivery trucks and parking for customers. Valet parking would be
available. Proposed hours would be consistent with other restaurants in
the area, where food service ceases two hours before closing. Their
proposed schedule would be to serve until 11 pm, Monday through
Saturday, and until 10 pm on Sunday. [This needs fact-checking. SSS
will call.] The owners were represented by a specialist attorney,
Andrea M. Bagwell of Harmon, Wilmot & Brown, LLP. The application
should be heard on October 22nd, 2003. The restaurant is to open to the
public in May of 2004. (Att. C)
7.0 St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School St. Patrick’s
Episcopal Day School is seeking a new BZA cap on personnel. They seek
the equivalent of 93 FTE’s (Full Time Employees) comprising both faculty
and staff at the Whitehaven campus. Their hearing is scheduled for
early in December, this appearance before the commission was just a
preliminary opportunity for answering questions related to the
adjustment. They will appear before the Commissioners at the November
meeting.
7.1 Katherine Bradley, and Peter Barrett, Headmaster, answered
questions. Although the present student cap is 440, there are 448
students enrolled this year for the nursery through grade 6.
Statistics were given as to how closely the school had been able to
match its acceptance rate to the actual enrollment rate and stay within
the cap in the past. The Headmaster expected that by the end of the
this year, due to regular attrition, the overage of 8 would decrease.
The residency source of their students is composed 62% from the
District, 10% from Virginia, and 28% from Maryland.
8.0 Mayor’s Mansion Ellen McCarthy, Deputy Director of the
DC Office of Planning, presented the city’s position on the Casey
Foundation’s proposal for the new Mayor’s Mansion at 1801 Foxhall Road
and the need for a transfer of jurisdiction of Reservation 357, known as
Whitehaven Parkway, which runs along the northern boundary of the
present estate. The proposal is that 1.8 acres of this land be
transferred from the jurisdiction of the National Park Service to DC
Government which would then lease it to the Casey Foundation for the
sole purpose of providing a secondary access road to the Mayoral Mansion
estate. The land would remain in title with the government. She
recounted the history of this parcel: how the entire 4 acres of this
northern boundary strip was originally part of the Brady estate itself;
and how it had been given to the federal government in 1947 for the
purpose of the becoming part of the then proposed Whitehaven Parkway
road. This road was never built through this area, and the land has
been under the custody of the National Park Service ever since. The
secondary access road is required for security and private access by the
Mayor’s family as well as an exit for high-ranking, national officials
requiring special security. The Foundation proposes to clear and make
accessible the remainder of the parcel for public access. It will use
native and non-invasive species and minimize tree cutting, while also
planting more trees. It will heed in its construction schedules the
season of breeding needed by certain bird species. The topography of
the whole site is very hilly, and this constrains where both the house
can be situated and how any roadway can be built.
8.1 There will be a hearing on September 4 by the National
Capital Planning Commission to determine if it approves this transfer.
There will then be a hearing by the DC City Council on September 30th on
the same issue.
8.2 Howard Bray and Don Velsey, citizens, who had prepared
detailed drawings on alternative ways to build this secondary road and
to take advantage of the 4-way traffic signals and intersection of
Foxhall Road and Whitehaven Parkway, presented their ideas and their
interpretation of the history and the plans.
8.3 Other citizens speaking were Robert Norris, who objected to
the transfer and saw it as Mrs. Casey’s desire rather than the product
of systematic land-use planning; Kent Slowinski, President of the
Friends of Whitehaven Parkway, who reminded us that the Glover Park
residents had voted to oppose the transfer and that the area is home to
many birds, some endangered, and animals; and Mark Fishbow, who was
concerned that the substance of the deal be negotiated by our own DC
representatives and not just by federal officials. To that end, he
inquired as to the next steps. The answer was that the DC Council must
approve the transfer of jurisdiction and then must approve the lease
struck between DC and the Casey Foundation.
8.4 ANC ACTION - Commissioner Gates had asked us to support her
giving testimony at the NCPC hearing and the DC Council hearing on
September 30th in opposition to the transfer. There was discussion of
her proposed testimony with some objections to parts of the draft. In
the end, Commissioner Finney proposed a resolution of record by ANC3D
for presentation to the NCPC on September 4th, which was also
discussed. Commissioner Shapley endorsed the citizen’s concern that our
focus be on our own DC government and proposed an amendment to the
draft, paragraph 5, that added the phrase “and urges consideration of
alternative plans for the secondary road.” This resolution was accepted
by a vote of 6-1-0 with Commissioner Mullane dissenting on substantive
grounds. (See Att.D)
9.0 Commission Business.
9.1 Treasurer’s Report. The treasurer’s report was
given. There is currently a balance of $15,957 in the Bank of America
checking account. The proposed budget for FY 2004 was presented and
approved 7-0-0. This will take effect October 1st , 2003 through
September 30th, 2004. (See attachment.)
9.2 Secretary’s Minute. The minutes from the July meeting
were read and approved 7-0-0. (See attachment.)
9.3 Next Meeting. The next meeting will be held
Wednesday, October 1,2003 at t
the Ernst Auditorium of Sibley Hospital.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Stowell Shapley,
Secretary, ANC-3D
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