Funds Exhausted for ANC Lawyer in Handle19 Protest: ANC 6B Report

Economic Development and Zoning Committee

• The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of conditional support to the Zoning

Commission for a requested modification of consequence (modify number of balconies on eastern façade) for 1701 H Street, NE (ZC 15-31A) on condition that the additional units that are going to be proffered with the 7 th floor addition be made 30% area median income (AMI), or substituted with the same number of units at 30%

AMI. • The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of conditional support to the Board of

Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for a special exception from the lot occupancy restrictions, the rear addition requirements and the rooftop and upper floor restrictions to construct a new, three-story with cellar and roof deck, rear addition to an existing, two-story with cellar, semi-detached, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 Zone at 211 13th Street, NE (BZA #20450), on condition that the applicant make best efforts to get letters of support from neighbors. • The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of conditional support to the Historic Preservation Office (HPO) for the renovation of an existing single family row home with a rear and third floor addition in the

Capitol Hill Historic District relief at 17 9th Street, NE (HPO #21-254), on condition that the applicant make best efforts to get letters of support from neighbors. • The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of support to the BZA for a special exception from the lot occupancy requirements and the alley centerline setback requirements to construct a third story addition and roof deck to an existing two-story flat, and a second story addition to an accessory detached garage in the RF-1

Zone at 308 11th Street, NE (BZA

Case #20382).

The Economic Development and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the third Wednesday of each month.

Other Business

• The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to approve a Resolution regarding ANC 6A support for funding the DC Office for the

Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of

Hearing in DC’s FY2022 budget. • The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to approve the amendment of the ANC 6A FY21 budget to reallocate unused resources from the FedEx and DCPS security line items in the amount of $2,255.00 to grants ($1,870.00) and ZoomPro ($385.00). • The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to approve a letter to

DDOT requesting installation of speed humps in the 1400 block of

Duncan Street NE as indicated in

TSA# 20-00287735.

Visit www.anc6a.org for a calendar of meeting times, meeting agendas and other information. u

Funds Exhausted for ANC Lawyer in Handle19 Protest

ANC 6B RepoRt

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

During the discussion of financial reports at the Wednesday, April 14 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A AMBER GOVE, CHAIR, AMBERANC6A@GMAIL.COM

Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and H Street communities

ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE. www.anc6a.org

ALL ARE WELCOME

The Next meeting is 2nd Thursday, May 13, 7:00 p.m. Transportation & Public Space Committee meeting 3rd Monday, May 17, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via WebEx Economic Development and Zoning Committee meeting 3rd Wednesday, May 19, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via WebEx Community Outreach Committee meeting 4th Monday, May 24, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via WebEx Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meeting 4th Tuesday, May 25, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via WebEx By Laws Review Committee meeting (Ad Hoc Committee) Wednesday, May 26, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via WebEx

Instructions for accessing the meeting via WebEx have been posted under Hot Topics at anc6a.org. Call in information will be posted under Community Calendar at anc6a.org 24 hours prior to the meeting. You will be able to enter the meeting no earlier than 15 minutes prior to its scheduled start time.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C

P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787 www.anc6c.org • (202) 547-7168

Next meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Information will be posted on the ANC 6C website.

ANC usually meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm, 214 Massachusetts Ave, N.E. Please check the ANC 6C website for dates.

ANC 6C COMMISSIONERS

ANC 6C01

Christine Healey 6C01@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C02

Karen Wirt 6C02@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C03

Jay Adelstein 6C03@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C04

Mark Eckenwiler 6C04@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C05

Joel Kelty 6C05@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C06

Drew Courtney drewcourtney.anc @gmail.com ANC 6C COMMITTEES

Alcoholic Beverage Licensing

First Monday, 7 pm Contact: anc6c.abl.committee@gmail.com

Grants

Last Thursday, 7 pm Contact: torylord@gmail.com Twitter: @ANC_6C_Grants

Environment, Parks, and Events

First Tuesday, 7 pm Contact: 6C06@anc.dc.gov

Transportation and Public Space

First Thursday, 7 pm Contact: anc6c.tps@gmail.com

Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development

First Wednesday, 6:30 pm Contact: 6C04@anc.dc.gov Twitter: @6C_PZE

attendees were told that the ANC had been billed the entirety of the $14,000 allocated for legal fees. Counsel was retained to support the ANC protest of an application for a liquor license for Handle19, the bar, restaurant and sports book slated for 319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.

The District Alcohol Beverage Control Administration (ABRA) informed ANC 6B on April 1 that Handle19 had withdrawn the application. The Handle19 application for in-house sports betting was denied by DC Lottery in February but was expected to be resubmitted. Sports betting facilities, or sportsbooks, operating in DC have to be operated together with another retail aspect such as a convenience store or restaurant.

In January, Commissioner Corey Holman (6B06) made a motion to rescind the allocation of the funds. The motion reallocated them towards restarting the ANC grant program that funds community relief efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neighbors had declared themselves parties in opposition to the application. At the December ANC meeting, one representative cited statistics showing that a sportsbook would increase neighborhood crime. Commissioners in accord with them argued that sports betting does not belong in a residential neighborhood and will increase both vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the area.

With the case, commissioners had hoped to establish guideines on appropriate locations for sports book facilities. Materials prepared for the hearing, originally scheduled for April 8, are now on file with the ANC. However, now that Handle19 has withdrawn its application, there has been no resolution on that issue.

At the April meeting, commissioners supported an application for a substantial change in order to add a sports wagering license from the Ugly Mug (723 Eighth St. SE). That application concerned geofenced mobile apps for personal phones rather than physical kiosks. The ANC simultaneously supported the request from the same applicant to offer physical consoles for the electronic game of skill Dragon’s Ascent.

Support for Pacci’s Lincoln Park Zoning Adjustment

Commissioners supported a Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application for a use variance to expand the existing restaurant use at 106 13th St. SE to the cellar and second story of the building. Owner Spiro Gioldasis has been planning to open a Capitol Hill location for his Pacci’s restaurants on the site since 2018.

The building has been used as a restaurant since 1991, but the top floor and cellar are still zoned residential. The use variance would allow the applicant to expand capacity from 40 on the main floor to include an additional 30 in the cellar and 60 on the second floor, a total of 140 seats.

The application had received overwhelming support at the Apr. 6 Planning and Zoning Committee. Upwards of 23 people signed a petition in support of the adjustment. However, the case was pulled from the Apr. 14 consent agenda to give a resident of North Carolina Avenue opportunity to speak.

The resident said the expansion was unnecessary to sustain a business and would create undue traffic and parking issues. There is no parking on premises. Historic buildings are exempt from parking requirements.

Both Gioldasis and his representation said they expect to primarily serve people coming from the surrounding blocks, meaning that most customers will not drive to the area. However, they are willing to work with nearby churches and schools to rent parking if required.

Many commissioners referenced their own families as well as constituents in support of the argument that customers will come from the area via foot or bicycle. Citing the neighborhood desire for a successful business at that location, commissioners supported the BZA application by a vote of 8-0 with one abstention [one commissioner was absent]. Pacci’s Capitol Hill is expected to open by fall 2021. Follow progress on their Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/PaccisCapitol-Hill-2446906155543427/

NOTE: According to former 6B08 Commissioner Chander Jayaraman, the Office of Zoning missed a notice requirement so they are delaying consideration of the Pacci’s BZA case until May 26. Gioldasis acquired the property in 2018.

In Other Business

The Commission voted unanimously to support • A concept for a Historic Preservation Application (HPA) for 602 E St. SE to enclose a balcony to add to living space on the rear of the house. Appearing for the applicant, architect

Mark Cerny said that he had been part of a 2016 project to open the living space up as a balcony initiated by the previous owner; this project essentially reverses the previous work. • A New Retailer’s Class “A” Internet License for Select Whiskey LLC, (700 Pennsylvania Ave.

SE). The business sells a curated selection of whiskey online. There will be no sales on the premises. A Settlement Agreement (SA) limits delivery hours to 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to midnight on weekends. Commissioners also voted in support of a stipulated license, allowing the business to begin sales immediately pending full ABRA approval. • A letter to District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Interim Director Everett Lott in regard to the I-695 Ramp Traffic Study Update.

The study looks to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety along 11 Street SE between I and N

Streets SE. Commissioners said that the study was better than the status quo but does not meet the once-in-a-generational opportunity to advance the city’s safety goals. The letter cites in particular narrowing sidewalks, an excessive number of turning lanes and a need for wider bike lanes. • A letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the

District Department of Public Works (DPW) requesting that enforcement of Residential Parking Permit (RPP) zones be resumed by August 1, 2021. The letter also requested that towing of abandoned vehicles be resumed in the ANC.

Note: On April 19, Mayor Bowser announced that all parking enforcement and vehicle towing as a result of parking violations would resume as of June 1. • A letter to the City Administrator and Mayor

Bowser asking that the city take the lead in finding a new location for a District heliport. Congressional Aviation, which operates the current South Capitol Heliport, will vacate the site in 2022. The company informed ANC 6B that they were no longer interested in seeking to relocate to the corner of 12th and Water Street SE.

ANC 6B opposed the heliport on multiple levels, including that it was inconsistent with past community-led planning efforts. The heliport is used by essential services such as Metropolitan

Police Department (MPD) and local hospital.

Commissioners requested that the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) delay hearing an HPA application to make a rear addition and change in front façade from stucco to wood siding at 420 11th St. SE as they had not yet had any communication with the applicant.