Commissioners Alex Padro (6E01), Michael Brown (6E02, secretary and treasurer), Frank Wiggins (6E03, vice chair), Alex Marriott (6E05, chair), Alvin Judd (6E06) and Kevin Rogers (6E07) made up the quorum to conduct official business at the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E March meeting.
Councilmember Allen Forecasts Upcoming Term
Councilmember Charles Allen paid a visit to the meeting and provided updates on some of the District’s key issues. The DC Council has begun a new two-year term, and Councilmember Allen will chair the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee as well as serve on the Committee on Education, the Committee on Transportation and the Environment and the Committee on Business, Consumer, and Regulatory Affairs. He also sits on the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, composed of elected officials from the District, Virginia and Maryland.
Lewis Ferebee was confirmed by the Council to be the new DC Public Schools chancellor. Councilmember Allen has promoted closing the achievement and equity gap for neighborhood schools and hopes that Chancellor Ferebee will champion this cause. He also noted that councilmembers are making the addition of a new Shaw Middle School a top priority. Allen said that he is promoting pedestrian safety to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) by requesting more stop signs to create safer intersections, and revealed that the Council plans to invest in greenspace for Cobb Park.
Allen announced that the mayor’s budget proposal will be released on March 20, and the Council will follow this with hearings. The federal government shutdown cost the District $47 million, but the budget and reserves are healthy. At the conclusion of the meeting Allen provided his contact info: 202-724-8072; callen@dccouncil.us.
Commission Protests Liquor License
At the request of the commissioners, an Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) license protest hearing for Electric Cool-Aid was postponed to April 10 at 4:30 p.m. The establishment is located at 512 Rhode Island Ave. NW and is near homes. The ANC 6E proposal requested the applicant to close the outdoor beer garden at 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and midnight on Friday. The commissioners stated that they supported the business but did not want it to be disruptive to the neighborhood. The applicant’s decision not to sign the agreement prompted the protest.
The commissioners passed a measure to allocate $7,500 to seek an attorney to protest Electric Cool-Aid’s Retailer’s Class C Tavern License application.
Rito Loco Requests Support
Commissioner Brown, chair of the ANC 6E Zoning, Transportation and Planning Committee, stated that Rito Loco is seeking ANC 6E support for a Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) Special Exception Relief to add a sidewalk cafe. The cafe would be enclosed and provide five standup tabletops, occupying 270 square-feet, to accommodate 18 guests. The new space will also be gated with iron fencing, which is similar to other neighborhood establishments. The committee met on Feb. 28 and unanimously supported the application. Rito Loco is located at 606 Florida Ave. NW.
The commissioners motioned to support Rito Loco’s request for the sidewalk café, in writing, to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). In a separate motion they supported an ABRA license, contingent upon the applicant signing a settlement agreement that will limit the cafe’s operation hours to midnight, seven days a week. The motion passed and will be communicated in writing to ABRA.
Request for HPRB Support for Home Addition
Elena Romero of Axis Architects requested support prior to going before the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) for a property located on 1128 Sixth St. NW, in the Mount Vernon Square Historic District, an area consisting of multifamily row homes, low-rise apartments and office buildings.
The proposed project will convert a two-story townhouse into a multi-family building of six units. A three-story addition in the rear and a penthouse are proposed. The third floor and penthouse additions will be set back from the front facade and will not be visible from the street, preserving the historic character of the area. The applicants are scheduled to meet with HPRB next week; they will then go to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) and apply for permits. Construction should start in July 2019.
Chair Marriott asked the applicant to extend the HPRB hearing date to March 28, since the commission was not apprised of the situation until February. The applicant agreed to this request. A motion passed to table the matter until the April 2 public meeting.
6E Quick Hits
- Chair Marriott announced that Rachelle Nigro won the vacant 6E04 seat by a vote of 84 to 54.
- A Ward 6 liaison representative for the Mayor’s Office said the free Circulator bus will be extended through March and the Capital Bikeshare program will be free for veterans. She also noted that there is a tax credit of up to $1,000 per child for families with children in a licensed daycare facility.
- The commissioners motioned to provide a letter of support to the State Health Planning and Development Agency of the Department of Health, on behalf of Providence Hospital. The letter expresses support for the hospital’s certificate of need for six of its practices to take care of patients on an out-patient basis.
- DDOT will be scheduling a walkthrough, for the commissioners, of New Jersey Avenue NW to show plans to change it from one-way to two-way.
- The commissioners voted unanimously to support FreshFarm Community Engagement Manager Carrie Hildebrandt’s request for renewal of a public space permit for 2019 to continue operation of the Mount Vernon Triangle Market, located at Fifth and I streets NW. The commissioners will communicate it in writing to the Public Space Committee of DDOT.
Next Meeting
ANC 6E will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on April 2 at the Northwest One Library located at 155 L St. NW. Visit www.anc6e.org for more information.
Steve Holton can be contacted at ssholton@gmail.com.
