CRESTWOOD CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

Minutes – Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4A

September 5, 2017 Regular Public Meeting

The meeting was held in the community meeting room, MPD 4th District Headquarters, 6001 Georgia Avenue N.W. Commissioner Stephen Whatley, Chair (and ANC 4A01) called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM. Also present were Commissioners 4A02 Stacey Lincoln, 4A04 Patience Singleton, 4A05 Deborah Pope, 4A06 Karrye Braxton, and 4A08 Gale Black. A quorum was present for all votes.

1) Approval of the Agenda

Commissioner Braxton moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Lincoln seconded the motion. The motion was approved, 8 yes, 0 no.

2) Announcement of Proposed FY 2018 Budget

Commissioner Lincoln announced that copies of the proposed FY 2018 budget were available for the public to pick up on the table in the back of the meeting room. He also announced that the budget would be voted on at the October 3, 2017 meeting.

3) Consent Calendar

The following resolution was adopted without objection:

Resolution: Supporting an Application by the Community Alliance for Upper Fourteenth Street for a Main Street Grant

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4A (the Commission) takes note of the following:

The Upper Fourteenth Street Neighborhood is situated on the border between ANC 4A and ANC 4C.

The Commission has previously approved grant applications from the Community Alliance for Upper Fourteenth Street.

In late 2016, the Community Alliance for Upper Fourteenth Street (CAUFS) and the Kennedy Street Development Corporation (KSDC), came together to pursue a Main Street designation for the commercial areas from 14th Street NW from Spring Road up to Longfellow; Colorado Ave between Kennedy and Longfellow; and Kennedy Street from 14th to North Capitol.

After an extensive feasibility study, the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), with support from Councilmember Brandon Todd, gave provisional approval to the Main Street proposal with four conditions:

Develop an organizational structure that fits the Main Street model;

Create a Work Plan;

Execute a joint project;

Raise $40,000.

Through the Main Street program, CAUFS and KSDC will focus on coordinating sustainable community-driven commercial and cultural revitalization efforts in the Upper Fourteenth Street neighborhood.

RESOLVED:

That the Commission supports this application for the Main Street program because it will bring the following benefits to the Upper Fourteenth Street community:

It will retain existing businesses and recruit new businesses:

Businesses that have served the Upper Fourteenth Street neighborhood for many years should prosper and the program should attract new businesses that will fulfill unmet needs in the community.

It will improve commercial property facades, interiors:

The program will bring concentrated energy to rehabilitation projects and help businesses find private and public funding to improve exterior facades and renovate interior spaces.

It will improve streetscapes and keep streets clean:

The quality of the exterior environments in the commercial corridors have a tremendous impact on the viability of the community’s business districts and the livability of its neighborhoods.

It will attract new customers to businesses and create new jobs:

Implementation of the Main Street strategy will increase the patronage of local businesses; as a result, businesses will create new jobs to meet the demand.

It will promote and market commercial districts and the businesses that operate within:

The program will create a talented team of professionals and volunteers that will create the marketing strategies needed to raise public awareness and fundraise the dollars needed to implement the revitalization plan.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

That Commissioner Karrye Braxton, SMD 4A06, is hereby authorized to serve as the Commission’s representative.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

That, in the event the designated representative Commissioner cannot carry out her representative duties for any reason, the Commission authorizes the Chairperson to designate another Commissioner to represent the Commission in all matter relating to this resolution.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

Consistent with DC Code §1-309, only actions of the full Commission voting in a properly noticed public meeting have standing and carry great weight. The actions, positions and opinions of individual commissioners, insofar as they may be contradictory to or otherwise inconsistent with the expressed position of the full Commission in a properly adopted resolution or letter, have no standing and cannot be considered as in any way associated with the Commission.

Contract with James H. Irwin to Provide Office Manager Services

The contract was approved without objection as part of the consent calendar.

Meeting minutes – April 4, 2017 and June 6, 2017

The meeting minutes were approved without objection as part of the consent calendar.

Commissioner Braxton moved that the consent calendar be approved. Commissioner Black seconded the motion. The motion was approved, 6 yes, 0 no.

4) FY 2017 Third Quarter Financial Report

Commissioner Lincoln moved that the FY 2017 Third Quarter Report be approved. Commissioner Braxton seconded the motion. The motion was adopted, 6 yes, 0 no.

5) Appointing Members of the Special Committee on Design Review

Following discussion, Commissioner Whatley moved that the Commission increase the number of members of the Special Committee on Design Review from nine to twelve, one of which must be a sitting Commissioner.

The motion was adopted by roll call vote, 4 yes, 2 no.

The roll call vote:

YES NO ABSTAIN

4A03 Whatley 4A02 Lincoln

4A05 Pope 4A04 Singleton

4A06 Braxton

4A08 Black

Commissioner Whatley noted that there were eleven applicants from the community to serve on the Committee. He asked the Commission to vote on each applicant individually. The vote was as follows:

Mr. Robert Bettman 5 Yes 1 No

Ms. Penelope Codrington 5 Yes 1 No

Mr. Christopher Galloway 6 Yes 0 No

Mr. David Gillers 6 Yes 0 No

Mr. Edward Green 5 Yes 1 No

Ms. Naima Jefferson 6 Yes 0 No

Ms. Willow Lung-Amam 6 Yes 0 No

Mr. David Mackoff 5 Yes 0 No 1 Abstain

Mr. Kristopher Nelson 6 Yes 0 No

Ms. Annie Whatley 4 Yes 1 No (Commissioner Whatley recused)

Ms. Karin Ruff 6 Yes 0 No

Commissioner Lincoln was appointed a member of the Committee without objection.

Commissioner Lincoln was appointed Chair of the Committee without objection.

6) Resolution: Supporting the Hines-Urban Atlantic–Triden Conceptual Design for Area VU located on the Premises at Walter Reed

Following a presentation from the developer, Hines-Urban Atlantic-Triden, Commissioner Whatley moved that the Commission adopt a resolution supporting the conceptual design for Area V/U on the Walter Reed campus. Commissioner Lincoln seconded the motion. The motion was adopted unanimously, 6 yes, 0 no.

The adopted resolution:

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4A (the Commission) takes note of the following:

The Parks at Walter Reed Master Development Team (Master Developer) has requested ANC 4A support for the Design Development Drawings for parcel “VU” within The Parks at Walter Reed Master Plan. (See Attachment 1 ANC 4A Design Development Presentation).

The Commission previously passed a resolution in support of the VU Conceptual Plans during its April 4, 2017 meeting.

The Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) granted Concept Approval of the VU Conceptual plans during its May 25, 2017 hearing, and requested that Master Developer return to HPRB with Design Development plans that respond to HPRB’s comments and ANC 4B’s comments.

Master Developer is scheduled to return to HPRB on with its Design Development plans on September 28, 2017 or October 5, 2017.

The Design Development plans provided to the Commission in the aforementioned Design Development Presentation are consistent with the Conceptual Plans previously supported by the Commission, with improvements and refinements to respond the comments of HPRB and ANC 4B.

VU remains the first new construction vertical component scheduled to be developed within the campus, and is expected to include up to 280 multifamily rental units; 20,000-30,000 SF of ground floor retail along Georgia Avenue; and up to 90 units of for-sale condo.

The proposed plan is consistent with the Zoning for the site, which is contained in Section K, Chapter 9 of the 2016 Zoning Regulations [https://dcoz.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcoz/publication/attachments/SubtitleK_0.pdf].

The Design Development plan is also consistent with the Parks at Walter Reed Master Plan Implementation: Preservation and New Design Guidelines. The Commission passed resolutions in support of both the Zoning and the Preservation and New Design Guidelines.

RESOLVED:

That the Commission supports the Design Development submission to HPRB as requested by the Master Developer based on the Master Developer’s responses to the recommended design changes as noted in the responses to ANC 4B Design Review Committee questions in Attachment 1 to this resolution.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

That Commissioner Stephen A. Whatley is hereby authorized to serve as the Commission’s representative.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

That, in the event the designated representative Commissioners cannot carry out their representative duties for any reason, the Commission authorizes the Chairperson to designate another Commissioner to represent the Commission in all matter relating to this resolution.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

Consistent with DC Code §1-309, only actions of the full Commission voting in a properly noticed public meeting have standing and carry great weight. The actions, positions and opinions of individual commissioners, insofar as they may be contradictory to or otherwise inconsistent with the expressed position of the full Commission in a properly adopted resolution or letter, have no standing and cannot be considered as in any way associated with the Commission.

7) Resolution: Authorizing Purchase of New Konica Minolta Printer

Mr. Dwight Polglaze, Konica Minolta, presented information on a new Konica Minolta printer. Following discussion and questions, the Commission postponed consideration of the resolution to the October 3, 2017 public meeting.

8) Resolution: Commending Merrit Drucker

Commissioner Lincoln moved that the Commission adopt a resolution commending Mr. Merrit Drucker for his services over many years to the District of Columbia. Commissioner Braxton seconded the motion. The motion was adopted, 6 yes, 0 no.

The adopted resolution:

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4A (the Commission) takes note of the following:

Mr. Merrit Drucker served for twenty years as an officer in the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of Major.

Mr. Drucker has resided in Washington, D.C. since 1998. He has been a resident of Ward Four since 2000.

Mr. Drucker served in the District of Columbia government from 2000 to 2014 in the following capacities:

2000 to 2004: Ward 4 Neighborhood Service Coordinator,

2004 to 2006: DC Clean City Coordinator

2007: Director, Mayor Office of Community Relations and Services

2012 - 2014 - Director of Facilities, St. Elizabeths Hospital.

Over the course of his residency, both as a DC Government employee and as a private citizen, Mr. Drucker has worked tirelessly and volunteered countless hours of his personal time to improving the quality of life for the citizens of the District of Columbia, including ending blighted conditions and urban decay, fighting rat infestation, and combatting chronic violations of D.C. government regulations and enforcing city codes.

His most recent project, extending well over ten years, is advocating for the removal of duplicate utility poles, which PEPCO leaves standing when new poles are installed. These unused poles can be a serious safety hazard and contribute to blight. Thanks to his unrelenting efforts, the District government works with PEPCO to ensure that they are removed, and the pace of removal has significantly improved.

RESOLVED:

That Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4A recognizes and commends Mr. Merrit Drucker for his dedication to the improvement of the quality of life in the District of Columbia and to the welfare of its citizens, and for the beneficial impact of his work city-wide.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the Commission strongly recommends that the City Council of the District of Columbia gives public recognition and commendation to Mr. Merrit Drucker for almost twenty years of work eliminating urban decay and blighted conditions, improving the physical infrastructure, keeping the District clean, protecting the environment, and supporting human development.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

That Commissioner Stacey Lincoln, ANC 4A02, is hereby authorized to serve as the Commission’s representative.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

That, in the event the designated representative Commissioner cannot carry out his representative duties for any reason, the Commission authorizes the Chairperson to designate another Commissioner to represent the Commission in all matter relating to this resolution.

FURTHER RESOLVED:

Consistent with DC Code §1-309, only actions of the full Commission voting in a properly noticed public meeting have standing and carry great weight. The actions, positions and opinions of individual commissioners, insofar as they may be contradictory to or otherwise inconsistent with the expressed position of the full Commission in a properly adopted resolution or letter, have no standing and cannot be considered as in any way associated with the Commission.

Community Comments and Concerns

1) Ms. Naima Jefferson asked the Commission to support Councilmember McDuffie’s bill B22-181 “Proper Planning of Future Growth” and ask for an extension of the deadline for comments so that it can comment.

2) Ms. Darlene Jackson, 5900 block of 13th Place NW, objected to parking restrictions established by the District Department of Transportation around the LAMB Charter School. Commissioner Braxton explained that the restrictions were necessary to permit access for a special bus transporting a handicapped student.

3) Mr. Michael Sindram asked the Commission to follow up on its resolution supporting Veterans Court and again request a response from the Chief Judge of the Superior Court.

Presentations and Reports

1) Mr. Phillip McCauley, Mayor Bowser’s office, reported on legislative and other issues of concern to the Mayor.

Commissioner Whatley moved that the meeting be adjourned. Commission Black seconded the motion. The motion was adopted, 6 yes, 0 no.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 PM.