Minutes of September ANC Meeting

The monthly meeting of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3E was called to order at 7:45 PM by Chairperson Diskan, with Commissioners Mayo, DiBiase, McNamara and Posniak present.

ANC Business/Actions

The minutes of the August 10, 2000 meeting were unanimously approved.

The Treasurer's September report was unanimously approved including the following checks. (A copy of this report is attached to this document.)

Check Number Check Issued To Amount

#256 Roberta Mulholland $ 311.57
#257 Jeffrey Harps $ 50.00
#258 Andrew Roberts* $ 350.00
#259 Roberta Mulholland $ 131.25
#260 Bell Atlantic $ 27.55

TOTAL: $ 870.37

* Total cost of sound system for 9/12/00 joint ANC-3E / ANC-3F meeting at Wilson High School. ANC-3F has agreed to reimburse ANC-3E for 50% ($175.00 of the total cost.)

A resolution opposing the proposed development, by Holladay Corporation, at the corner of Albemarle St., NW and Nebraska Ave., NW was passed 3-2. A position statement from the dissenting Commissioners was also attached to the resolution.

A resolution requesting the Office of Planning, The Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Zoning Commission hold consideration of the American University campus plan in abeyance pending fuller consultation with its neighbors, their associations, and their Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, or, in the alternative, agree to consider the proposed plan with the understanding that it will be in effect for a period of one year, after which American University must resubmit an application for a new 10 year plan based on the new regulations which are currently under development was approved 4-1.

A resolution to oppose the renewal of the Round Table liquor license unless the establishment-changed hours to more closely reflect those of neighboring restaurants was unanimously approved.

A resolution to support a public space permit applied for by the Cheesecake Factory was unanimously approved.

A resolution opposing the construction of a television tower on 41st St. was unanimously approved.

Announcements

Ken Laden of DPW- Transportation Division announced the desire of the city to locate a salt dome West of Rock Creek Park, in the vicinity of the Ft. Reno water storage facility.

Marvin Teivsky announced a community wide meeting with the Fire Department at Tenley Library September 26th at 7:30PM.

Commissioner DiBiase urged constituents to write/call Home Depot home office to help persuade the company to locate to this area.

Commissioner Diskan updated the community on the status of the TV tower currently under construction on 41st St., NW. A stop work order has been placed and city officials are working to keep the stop work order in place, and to ultimately have the tower removed or reduced in size.

Mr. Scott gave a summary of the election turn out.

Open Forum

Kathy Quirk brought up the fact that Starwood Parking is in violation of zoning laws when they keep their parking lot, located in the alley behind 4625 Wisconsin Ave., open into the evening.

Presentations and Discussions

The Commissioners spoke at great length in support of their different positions concerning the proposed development by Holladay Corp. of the parcel of land located at Albemarle and Nebraska. After a great deal of debate the Commissioners voted 3 to 2 to support Commissioner DiBiase's resolution which opposed the development. The dissenting Commissioners attached a minority opinion to the resolution stating their position of non-opposition if conditions of mediation were met.

David Taylor of American University outlined the process that American University takes and citizen should take for dealing with student complaints. After hearing from a number of residents concerning disruptive and physically violent American University students and the lack of action taken by American University to deal with these situations. The Commissioners strongly encouraged American University officials to come up with a better system to deal with these issues.

On a different note, but also concerning American University, Commissioner Posniak offered a resolution requesting the Office of Planning, The Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Zoning Commission hold consideration of the American University campus plan in abeyance pending fuller consultation with its neighbors, their associations, and their Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, or, in the alternative, agree to consider the proposed plan with the understanding that it will be in effect for a period of one year, after which American University must resubmit an application for a new 10 year plan based on the new regulations which are currently under development. This resolution was approved with a 4 to 1 vote.

Resident living near the Round Table Restaurant and Bar presented the Commissioners a summary of problems related to patrons of the Round Table. (The attorney for the Round Table was present but declined to comment as he felt that his party and the residents were still in negotiations concerning this matter.) The residents asked the ANC to support their position of opposition to the Round Table's liquor license. Commissioner Diskan proposed a resolution to oppose the liquor license unless the Round Table limit their hours of operation to 10 PM weeknights and 11PM weekends. The resolution was unanimously approved.

Cynthia Giordano an attorney for The Cheesecake Factory requested the Commissioners to support the Cheesecake Factory's application for a Public Space Permit to put an outdoor eating area in front of the Cheesecake Factory Restaurant located at 5200 Wisconsin Ave. Ms. Giordano also presented the final plans of what the area would look like and the furniture and fixtures that would occupy the space. Commissioner Diskan proposed a resolution to support the public space permit at filed and the resolution passed unanimously.

With there being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:30PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Tad DiBiase, Secretary