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ADVISORY
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3D
Minutes of
November 2, 2005
The regularly scheduled monthly meeting of ANC3D was called
to order on November 2, 2005, at 7 pm by the Chair, Alma Gates. Commissioners
present: Alma Gates, Ann Haas, Ann Hewer, Jill Stern and Rachel Thompson.
Commissioner Mullane arrived after the start of the meeting. Absent: Carl Ross
and Sarah Shapley both by prior notice. There were 40 people in the audience.
Police Report: Officer Kevin Kennedy reported on traffic enforcement
measures and gave an update on crime stats. There were a total of 16 crimes in
the PSA for the first two weeks of October. Officer Kennedy reminded attendees
to keep items out of sight in cars and to make sure car doors are locked.
Community Concerns: No one came forward with a concern from the
community. The chair reported on items of interest:
1. The chair informed the commission that in October a teak bench honoring John
W. Finney, former chair of ANC 3D, was placed in the glade by the great
200-year-old white oak tree at the corner of Loughboro and Dalecarlia. The oak
was a favorite of Commissioner Finney and references to it often appeared in his
comments.
2, A marker— that is, a boulder with an engraved plaque— was placed in the
median at the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and W Street to honor Officer
John Ashley who died in the line of duty. The City Council has designated the
4900 block of MacArthur as “Sergeant John Ashley Boulevard. “
3. The trial of Frank Economides has been postponed until January 12, 2006.
4. Meetings on the Whitehurst Freeway Deconstruction Feasibility Study: DDOT
will hold another series of public meetings –- November 15 at the Melrose Hotel
in Georgetown, November 16 at The Bank of Georgetown, 1001 Wisconsin Ave., NW,
and November 21 at St. Mary’s Armenian Church, 4125 Fessenden Street— to enable
the community to review alternatives developed during the summer.
5. With regard to the Zoning Commission hearing on the proposed expansion of the
School of International Service at American University, the commission voted
5-0-0 to have Commissioner Hugh Mullane represent the Commission at the hearing
- Commissioner Thompson announced that the Corps of
Engineers has declined to work with the community on a cost-effective
approach to disposing of residuals from water treatment at the Dalecarlia
facility. The plan now is for the Washington Aqueduct to construct a
dewatering facility near Sibley Hospital and then use 20-ton trucks to take
the solids off-site for disposal. Commissioner Thompson thanked the
community for its support.
BZA Application #17405 –
Application of MacArthur Laverock on behalf of Cathie E. and Philip C. Guzzetta
for a special exception to permit an addition to a single family detached
dwelling at 4598 Laverock Place not meeting the rear yard requirement.
Bogdan Builders appeared before ANC 3D in 2004 for a variance from the rear-yard
setback to enable the developers to make the front-yard setback consistent with
neighboring properties. The commission approved the request, and permitted a
12-foot rear-yard setback in the R-5-A District that requires a minimum of 20
feet.
After the house was completed, Bogdan Builders installed a rear deck above the
allowable 4-foot height for a structure within the rear yard. The plans that
Bogdan had submitted to ANC 3D and the BZA in 2004 did not include a deck; they
were identical and therefore an automatic condition of BZA Order 17405.
At the November 2005 meeting, Mrs. Guzzetta appeared and was accompanied by
Carol Brown, an attorney with Holland and Knight. A discussion of the facts in
the case included the lack of evergreen buffering that was a condition of the
BZA Order. A letter from Riverside Hospital stating that the administrator of
the facility did not object to buffering along the fence dividing the two
properties but did not want trees planted on the hospital’s property.
The commission voted 5-0-0 to oppose the application for the deck and advised
Mrs. Guzzetta to seek compensation from Bogdan Builders. The commission
criticized Holland and Knight, the attorneys for Bogdan Builders in the original
application, for permitting this violation to occur.
BZA Application #17391. Appeal of Jonathan Gottleib and Diana deBrito from
the administrative decision of the Zoning Administrator for various building
permits at the property at 2620 Foxhall Road, NW. The applicants have
informed the chair that they are seeking a continuance to allow them to find
counsel to represent them in the case. The commission voted 5-0-0 to permit a
continuance.
BZA Application #17383, The Lab School of Washington.
This was the third in a series of presentations. Lab School board member Allyn
Kilsheimer and attorney Allison Prince represented the school. The commission
heard from the Rev. Milton Jordan, pastor of Our Lady of Victory Church, and
Deborah Weinberger, a school neighbor. Fr. Jordan stated that he is opposed to
the diagonal parking spaces because his students use the same corner of
Whitehaven Parkway for drop off and pick up and his main concern is student
safety. He also mentioned that as a former volunteer fireman he has serious
concern about the ability of the trucks from Engine Co. 29 being able to make
the turn from MacArthur onto Whitehaven Parkway. He said his board had voted
14-0 the evening before to oppose the diagonal parking spaces being requested by
The Lab School. Deborah Weinberger noted that she has serious concern that the
spaces would change the topography of the land and not be sufficient for the
needs of the school, given the number of staff that does not currently have
parking on campus.
The commission discussed Application #17383 and considered each of the four
proposals individually. The commission also added conditions. The vote
follows:
1. ANC 3D voted 6-0-0 to maintain a student cap of 310.
2. ANC 3D voted 5-1-0 to permit an increase in faculty and staff from 94 to
150 based on existing on-site parking availability and the school’s continued
use of a daily, regularly scheduled shuttle bus for faculty, staff and volunteer
student teachers and tutor trainees. Commissioner Haas opposed any
faculty/staff increase.
3. ANC 3D voted 6-0-0 to deny the proposed angled parking spaces in public
space on Whitehaven Parkway. The school was strongly encouraged to continue
discussions with GW/Mt. Vernon for its short-term parking needs (until an
on-site facility is built), and to explore car pooling and shared bus
transportation with other institutions in the immediate area.
4. ANC 3D voted 6-0-0 to support the proposal to permit use of the new
property at 4749 Whitehaven Parkway for administrative purposes. Support was
conditioned on the school not allowing any student activity at the property.
5. ANC 3D voted 6-0-0 to approve a condition that the school allows only
students with a proven hardship to drive to school. Students must be approved
prior to driving to school and the school’s disciplinary measures will be
clearly outlined in the student handbook.
6. ANC 3D voted 6-0-0 to approve a condition that would establish quarterly
meetings between The Lab School and the community. A community liaison should
also be appointed by The Lab School as a point of contact for the community.
The minutes from the October meeting were presented and approved with one
correction. In the absence of the secretary, the treasurer acted on her behalf.
The treasurer’s report shows a balance of $22,469.28 in the Bank of America
checking account. This includes a recent allotment of $6,388.20
The quarterly financial report was given and approved 6-0-0. In the absence of
the secretary, the treasurer signed.
The next regular meeting will be Wednesday, December 7th,
2005.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Haas (treasurer)
Acting Secretary.
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