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brought up the need to consider bike plans in the project, but the developer disagreed. Before they agreed on the $100,000 for DDOT, the developer questioned why city funds couldn’t go toward that need. “There’s no free market for Bikeshare stations,” Goodman responded.
Eckenwiler Calls Proposed Bill for ANCs More Damage than Help The DC Council intended the proposed Omnibus Amendment of 2016 for governing the ANCs to help the commissioners, but Eckenwiler explained why he thinks the bill would cause more harm than good. Among several items, the amendment would require the ANC to review fully every construction permit application by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) – even for a new door, window, boiler – and render a decision within a 45-day waiting period. It would also deny the “group of five rule” for alcohol license cases, which currently allows any group of five neighbors to protest an alcohol license within a 200-foot radius. In addition, commissioners would receive a $50 stipend for each meeting, which would take away government funds for grants and projects. Commissioners currently serve without compensation. The ANC would be required to give 14 days’ notice for anyone participating at the next meeting, which might sometimes be impossible because the meetings that set the ANC’s agenda convene within days of the monthly meeting. The ANC voted to send a letter to At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds opposing the legislation. “I think it’s bad for the ANCs,” Eckenwiler said. “And I think it’s bad for citizens.”
Continued Opposition to Sixth Street Addition Faulty architectural designs and a failure to fix damaged shared walls forced the ANC again to oppose a request to enlarge the building at 518 Sixth St. NE. Eckenwiler was dumbfounded at the meeting when the owner’s representative presented plans different from what he had reviewed days earlier, and after specifically requesting no changes be made. “There’s a description of a chimney that’s no longer there,” he said. “We know it’s no longer there, and the applicant knows it’s not there because it was removed recently.”
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Engineer Stamps Structural Approval Without Proper Credentials An engineer looking at 629 L St. NE stamped the plans for the site with a structural engineer’s approval, but Eckenwiler told the ANC the man is not actually a structural engineer. The building wall also drew concerns about the proximity to its property line and the fact it is not fire efficient. “It’s an untruthful document in support of the application,” Eckenwiler said. The ANC voted to oppose in a letter.
Apollo on H Street Offers Help The mixed-use Apollo development on the 600 block of H Street NE offered to help design around a neighboring National Park Service (NPS) park to clean up the area. A trapezoidal lot has a fence encroaching on the area now, and the ANC agreed to push the resolution of any land disputes by sending a letter to the NPS.
Other Actions The ANC again voted to oppose the request of Toscana Cafe (601 Second St. NE) to change from a class D to class C restaurant to allow for the sale of spirits. Eckenwiler explained that the owners continued to fight a settlement agreement with the ANC. XO (15 K St. NE) won the approval of the ANC to operate an unenclosed sidewalk cafe, so long as the owners follow the same rules as the already approved summer garden: closing at 10 p.m., no music outside, and dogs allowed. Goodman hopes this will lighten and enliven the area to deter prostitution. DC Water posted two-month-long No Parking signs along the 700 block of Fourth Street NE. The ANC voted to send a letter to DC Water and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen advising that the time period revoking residential parking permits is inappropriate. The ANC supported the development at 1005 North Capitol St. NE, so long as it includes bike racks. Price requested DDOT to perform a trafficcalming study at Seventh and C streets NE. ANC 6C regularly meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the Heritage Foundation, 214 Mas-
sachusetts Ave. NE. There is no meeting in August. The next meeting is on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. u
ANC 6D Report
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by Christine Rushton
scheduled 20-minute presentation at the July meeting of the advisory neighborhood commission (ANC) on the health impacts to neighbors near the Buzzard Point and DC United stadium development turned into an hour-long argument between commissioners and the city’s representatives. Commissioners expressed their anger at the DC United project’s not sending representatives to the meeting and also the lack of priority placed on settling the health and air-quality concerns around the construction site. The rest of the meeting, though tense and strained, allowed the commissioners to get through the long agenda before the August break. The quorum: Stacy Cloyd (6D02, secretary), Meredith Fascett (6D07, treasurer), Rhonda Hamilton (6D06), Marjorie Lightman (6D01), Andy Litsky (6D04, chair), Roger Moffatt (6D05), and Rachel Reilly Carroll (6D03, vice-chair).
Buzzard Point Health Assessment Not Enough The entire ANC disapproved of and blasted the DC Department of Health (DOH) and DC United’s presentation of the health assessment for the neighbors and region surrounding the Buzzard Point project site in Southwest. Representatives from the city argued that the plans for cleanup or air-quality damage prevention were already approved, but the commissioners refused to accept that the city had given adequate time and access to respond to the plans. “We haven’t seen a plan on toxic chemicals,” Litsky said. “What about the community?” Commissioner Carroll added, “We need this to be a feedback loop. We need to know what comments are being used in the plan.” The city representative explained that they had incorporated most, if not all, of the comments, but put them on a website instead of sending the chang-