Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on July 17 via Zoom. Commissioners Bob Link (6DO1, vice chair), Ronald Collins (6D02, treasurer), Gail Fast (6D03), Andrea Pawley (6D04), Ashton Rohmer (6D05), Bruce Levine (6D06, secretary) and Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D07, chair) and Rhonda Hamilton (6D08) were in attendance.
The Cambria Hotel, located at 69 Q St. SW, is negotiating a lease for its valet parking service at 129 Q St. SW to replace a current location about to be redeveloped. The new site would accommodate roughly 40 cars. The hotel itself has no underground or street level parking.
Commissioner Hamilton, whose district encompasses The Cambria, spoke in support of the proposal. However, she did have a few caveats. The new lot is situated over a toxic waste cap. She requested the hotel agree to air quality monitoring and avoid generating dust. She asked the hotel to ensure the cap remained undisturbed and also requested periodic inspections of its integrity. Hamilton has requested the valet service be extended to nearby senior residents, who face difficulties parking during games days.
The commission voted to the support the Cambria’s new lease.
DC Zoning Says No!
The DC Zoning Commission denied the commission’s motion for reconsideration of its approval of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) at 899 Maine Ave, reported Vice Chair Link. “ANC 6D’s great weight was not given consideration,” he stated.
Given the 899 decision, Link suggested the commission abandon seeking funds from the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (OANC) to support filing a motion of reconsideration in relation to the PUD at 807 Maine Ave. SW. His colleagues agreed.
“The effort the community that has put in with the Office of Planning is disregarded by the Zoning Commission…I am disturbed to see that the Southwest Small Area Plan is yet again disregarded by the Zoning Commission,” stated Commissioner Pawley. A number of commissioners concurred with her sentiments.
ABC Issues
Hell’s Kitchen, 652 Wharf St SW, 652 Wharf St SW, has requested an alteration in its existing liquor license to allow entertainment in its two summer gardens from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA). The commission voted to oppose the change on the basis of peace, order a quiet citing concerns the noise would inconvenience the nearby live-a-board population.
The Hive Wharf has applied for a new license. There has been no communication from applicant, reported Vice Chair Link. No community agreement is in place. The commission voted to protest the application on the basis of peace, order and quiet.
Kinfolk Southern, 685 Wharf St SW, has requested a substantial change to their liquor application involving additional adjacent kiosks. There is no community agreement in place, Link stated. Commission voted to protest the application on the grounds of peace, order and quiet.
Thrashers Rum has placed a new trailer on the Market Pier, Link reported. The commission ABC Committee does not believe that the current license includes alcohol service on that site, Link reported. Why doesn’t ABCA conduct enforcement? asked Collins.
Finally, Link announced that ABC Committee Chair Travis Johnson has tendered his resignation. Commissioner Fast praised his time and service to the community. Link appointed Darrell Madden to replacement Johnson as his single member district’s representative on the ABC Committee.
Other Matters
DDOT is installing a two-way cycle track and dedicated bus lines on M Street between 11th Street and Half Street SE starting on Aug. 7, stated Bicycle Program Specialist Will Handsfield. The agency plans a protected bidirectional bike lane for the north side of the street. A dedicated bus lane and new bus platforms will grace the street’s southern side. The agency, Handsfield stated, will avoid scheduling construction on game days. However, this may entail doing some night work to keep the project on schedule. The project will take six to eight weeks to complete, weather permitting, he said.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Captains Kevin Harding and Justin Roth briefed the commission on the public safety. The past 30 days saw an uptick in robberies around The Wharf. The miscreants targeted folks wearing expensive clothing. They robbed them in public bathrooms and parking garages. Auto thefts were also up, involving mostly Hyundais and Kias. There was also one targeted shooting on the block of 1400 Fourth St. SW and five robberies. In two instances, robbers hopped out of cars to attack pedestrians. Property crimes were also slightly up, they stated.
Waterside Station requested the commission’s support to change the target of the $70,000 community donation required by their PUD from Safeway gift cards to donations to King Greenleaf and Arthur Capper Recreation Centers. The commission voted to support the change.
The commission voted to:
- support 1700 Half St.’s zoning application for a modification consequence to modify uses of ground floor for an indoor/outdoor bar and co-working space and the reconfiguration of alley curb cuts from three to two reducing the number of short-term parking spots;
- amend its bylaws with three abstentions;
- establish a special committee on transportation.
- Hired Donna Purchase as its part-time administrator;
- support the DC Bike Party planned for Sept. 9;
- resend an earlier letter to the new interim director of DCHA regarding the Commission’s opposition to “right-sizing” plans for Greenleaf Gardens public housing complex.
ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is Sept 11, 2023. For more information, visit www.anc6d.org.
