I Street Bike Plan Triggers Firestorm

cess on the part of the District. Without a plan, he said, traffic problems could just be displaced onto another block. Eckenwiler said that many residents did not support the installation, but were not present to speak due to the lack of notice.

Prior to October 2021, District residents requesting traffic calming measures had to first get support from neighbors via a petition, then go to the ANC for broader support. After several highly publicized traffic accidents, Bowser and DDOT announced the acceleration of pedestrian and roadway safety projects, including shortening the community engagement process, including a reduction in the role of ANCs and the notice period to the ANC.

While Eckenwiler had planned to introduce a motion in opposition to the installation, the commission instead passed a letter to DDOT Director Everett Lott pointing out the problems with the process, including the short 10-day notice and the lack of supporting details such as precise location and an explanation for the basis of the decision.

“We’re not shooting anything down,” Eckenwiler said. “We’re shooting in the dark. And that’s problematic.”

Charles Allen Presentation Redistricting

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen spoke to the continuing process of redistricting. New Ward boundaries came into effect Jan. 1; those did not impact 6C, Allen said. However, the next part of the process, redrawing the ANCs and their Single Member Districts (SMDs), or the areas represented by each commissioner, will affect the ANC.

Allen said Ward 6 lost 20,000 residents, the single largest population ward shift in the history of DC in a process that was traumatic for many and painful on many levels for him.

Allen will appoint a task force to redraw ANC lines, then SMDs. That task force will meet from the end of January through to the end of March. The recommendations go to the Redistricting Subcommittee, Allen said, then on to DC Council, which will have two votes on the new boundaries.

Task force membership will, Allen said, follow the same plan as utilized 10 years ago, when he worked for then Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. Anyone who serves on the task force will not be a sitting commissioner and should make a commitment not to run for ANC in November 2022. Task Force meetings will be open, probably virtual.

The process must be complete by about the end of April to allow DC Board of Elections (DC BOE) time to create new maps so candidates running for ANC in November 2022 can pull petitions in June.

ANCs stay the same through 2022, Allen said. Therefore, someone might have become a resident of Ward 7 or 8 as of Jan 1, but remain resident of an ANC starting with ‘6’ until Jan. 2, 2023, when new commissioners are sworn in.

Allen did not rule out the possibility of crossward ANCs. However, he noted that both ward council members would have to support the idea, adding that he hasn’t heard his colleagues explicitly say they would do so.

There are a lot of issues to wrestle with, Allen said, pointing to 6C06, where Drew Courtney represents between 4,000-5,000 voters, far more than the ideal 2,000. ANC 6C should probably grow to include 7 or 8 SMDs, Allen said.

Virtual ANC Meetings

Last summer, Allen moved legislation to extend the authority for ANCs to meet virtually, rather than in person as required by DC Code, until January 2022. He said that on Tuesday, Jan. 18 DC Council will move legislation granting ANCs authority to continue to meet virtually to the end of the calendar year. That’s a long extension, Allen acknowledged, but said Council should probably have a conversation about permanent legislation to this effect.

Consent

ANC supported the following motions on their consent calendar: • A DDOT public space application (PSA) at First

Street and New York Avenue NE for a temporary curb cut to facilitate parking/loading access on the west side of First Street NE (near McDonald’s). If the two buildings planned for the site cannot be completed simultaneously, the building closer to New York Avenue requires an access point for vehicles. The application was supported by the ANCs on the condition that the curb cut only be installed if construction is not simultaneous and that the curb cut should be closed as soon as possible, earlier than the one year permitted, if possible. • A Historic Preservation Application (HPA) concept approval for second-story and attic additions to an existing one-story rear portion of a main row dwelling (two stories plus attic) at 327

Constitution Avenue NE, noting a lack of neighbor opposition. • A Board of Zoning Application (BZA) for a special exception from lot occupancy requirements to construct a three-story rear addition to an existing attached four-story principal dwelling unit at 638 E Capitol St. NE. • Comments about Zoning Code rule-making on parking and loading. ANC testimony provided in

October 2021 flagged three items for DC Council that the ANC felt should be struck at initial proposal. The Office of Zoning agreed on two of these, but was split on the third which dealt with requirements for a DDOT construction loading plan. The ANC letter proposes revised language to clarify these rules and includes previous testimony on consequences of non-compliance with a loading plan during construction.

Officer Elections

ANC 6C unanimously re-elected all executive officers to their current positions as a slate. Karen Wirt (6C02), Chair; Mark Eckenwiler (6C04), ViceChair; Joel Kelty (6C05), Treasurer; Christine Healey (6C01), Secretary.

ANC 6C welcomes a new Transportation Public Space (TPS) Committee Chair as outgoing Chairperson Christy Kwan steps down. New to the role as of February 2022 will be Michael Upright, a former Commissioner for ANC 2B04 and a former member of that ANC’s Transportation and Zoning Committees.

ANC 6C generally meets on the second Wednesday of the month. The next meeting of ANC 6C is scheduled for Wednesday, 7 p.m. Feb. 9. Get the latest information on how to attend at anc6c.org/hot-topics/. u

ANC 6D RepoRt

by Andrew Lightman

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on Jan. 10 over Zoom. Commissioners Dr. Marjorie Lightman (6D01), Jared Weiss (6D02, secretary), Ronald Collins (6D03, treasurer), Andy Litsky

(6D04), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D05, vice chair), Rhonda Hamilton (6D06) and Edward Daniels (6D07, chair) were in attendance. Commissioners voted unanimously to re-elect a slate of the current office holders to another term.

DC Dept. of Transportation (DDOT) Transportation Planner Jamee Ernst briefed the commission on the “SW/SE I Street Safety Project,” otherwise known as the I Street protected bike lanes. Now in preliminary and at 30% concept planning, final designs are expected in the spring of 2022 date. DDOT expects to issue a Notice of Intent (NOI) this spring. Construction is planned for this fall. Designed to increase bike use by installing protected bike lanes, the Project spans I Street from 7th Street SE to 7th Street SW.

Taking DDOT to task, Chair Daniels pointed out the difficulties created by the installation of protected bike lanes on New Jersey Avenue and First Street SE. No allowance was made for parcel deliveries, which are made at the front entrances of residential buildings and retail establishments. Unloading trucks, he pointed out, often block an entire lane of traffic due to the lack of curbside parking created by the installation of protected bike lanes, Daniels stated. This creates real safety concerns due to the obstruction of sight lines for drivers on these roads. “DDOT creates fires by installing these bike lanes and then tries to put them out,” he stated in an exasperated tone. He accused the agency of ignoring the commission’s input in its bike lanes plans entirely.

The issue of I Street protected bike lanes had been previously discussed at the commission’s March 2021 meeting. DDOT Community Engagement Specialist Andrew DeFrank briefed the commission on plans for the I Street Bike Lane. Originally, the project called for the replacement of all parking on the northern side of I Street from Seventh Street SE to Seventh Street SW by two protected bike lanes. This would remove over 150 parking spaces. (Here is the original plan: https://www.anc6d.org/wp-content/ uploads/2021/02/Eye-Street-SW-SEpresentation-to-ANC-6D-21-2-8.pdf.)

DDOT, DeFrank stated at the March meeting, had changed its thinking about the project. After re-measuring the street, agency engineers discovered there was sufficient roadway to situate protected bike lanes between the curb and parked cars, DeFrank said. The agency now planned to install protected bike lanes on the north and south sides of the street between the parking lane and the curb instead of a double track on the north side. The new plan, he said, preserved current parking from Third Street west to Seventh Street SW. 48 spaces would still be removed between South Capitol and Third Street SW. 20 of these are residential spaces and another 28 are currently metered parking (https:// www.hillrag.com/2021/03/31/anc-6dtalks-air-quality-at-buzzard-point/).

The overview provided by Ernst appeared at odds with DeFrank’s earlier pledge. In response to a query from Commissioner Weiss’s, she stated that all parking would be entirely removed on one side of I Street. When pressed by Weiss, Ernst was unable to say out many total spots would be eliminated.

Ernst did address concerns raised by Amidon-Bowen Elementary School parents and commissioners regarding how the plans impact on their I Street pickup/drop-off zone. The current situation, she stated, would be preserved with an unprotected bike lane and parking next to the curb. However, a protected bike lane would be installed along the south side of the street next to Westminster Church. DDOT was working with the developers of the Westminster Church project to address any concerns about the bike

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lane’s impact, she said.

DDOT is being ageist in its bike lane plans, stated both Commissioners Lightman and Kramer. “I do not see a single vehicle (on these bike lanes) that is useful for a senior to use,” Lightman stated. “The assumption that everyone is going to be on two wheels is ageist and wrong,” said Kramer.

“Why aren’t the seniors and children a priority?” Commissioner Hamilton asked rhetorically.

Commissioners Collins and Litsky echoed the concerns of their fellow commissioners pointing out that risk posed to seniors at Westminster by bicycle riders.

“Your analysis of I Street is no better than one conducted by a high school student,” Lightman stated. “Have you not walked the street? Every single section has a unique set of conditions.” The agency is treating I Street as a thoroughfare rather than a neighborhood street, she said. Citing a laundry list of developments, the school and the churches impacted by the plan, she pointed out the conditions of every block are different. “We need a street by street analysis,” Lightman said.

“I suggest you step back from your plan,” advised Lightman, “You should involve the community and begin all over again.” “I am absolutely appalled that you have come to a public meeting to share projections that you are going to implement over the next 12 months,” she said.

“I don’t trust DDOT. They don’t collaborate with the ANC,” added Commissioner Litsky.

Ernst pledged to return to the commission to present her agency’s plans as they mature.

899 Maine Avenue Gets a Hearing

Representatives of developer Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners briefed the commission on their plans for Planned Unit Development (PUD) for a residential building with ground floor retail on the triangular site of a former Department of Agriculture office building at 899 Maine Ave. SW. Lynch is now asking for the land to be rezoned from MU-12 to MU-9, allowing a building of up to 120 feet in height.

The developer plans a single structure stepping down in height from 120 feet on Maine Avenue to 100 feet on G Street SW. The building is shaped into two main elements with a connecting structure incorporating a Ninth Street residential entrance. A continuous set of retail bays are planned for the Maine Avenue side wrapping round the corner with Ninth Street SW.

Developers envisioned creating a private driveway on the east side of the property, which would run from the existing G Street curb cut to a new one planned for Maine Avenue SW. All loading would take place in a dock on the opposite side from the residential entrance. Two levels of underground parking are planned. Developers plan to file a PUD application in early February.

This is not anywhere near a finished project, stated Commissioner Lightman. Moreover, the existing intersection at Ninth Street and Maine Avenue SW is already a disaster, she said. Commissioner Collins echoed her assessment and inquired about construction traffic routes. No plan has been developed as yet, representatives said, but access from the G Street SW is envisioned. Truck traffic is banned from G Street SW, Collins retorted.

“This is the most problematic site to develop in Southwest unless you reconfigure Ninth Street,” said Commissioner Litsky. *Unless you are bringing in the construction materials by drone, this is going to be a difficult project to build. I don’t see how the entrance

on Ninth Street is going to function. The community bene t for this project should be “Don’t screw up the traf c for the rest of Southwest.”

Commissioner Kramer criticized the Ninth Street residential entrance and construction entrance on G Street SW. “Pickup and drop o on Ninth Street is not tenable and G Street SW construction access will not work, she stated. “You are halfway to a clever solution to a di cult project, but a long way from a complete solution,” she observed.

Commissioner Litsky asked whether the developer intended to build and sell, pointing to an earlier project on H Street NE. Jair Lynch intends to hold the property, representatives stated.

Commissioner Kramer pushed the developer to commit to more affordable housing. “I would hope you could push this much higher than 15 percent,” she said.

Commissioners Kramer and Hamilton questioned the impact of the building’s shadow on neighboring Je erson Academy and Je erson Recreational Field. The project will now create shadows on the football eld, project representatives stated. Both took exception to increasing shadows at the tennis and pickle ball courts immediately adjacent to the project site. The worst shadows created by the development will be around 3 p.m. in the afternoon when the eld is most used by students and others, Hamilton pointed out.

Commissioner Lightman suggested the commission form a committee meet with developers to work matter out. Her colleagues concurred, but took no formal action.

Other Matters

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) outlined his plan for redrawing ANC and SMD boundaries now that the redistricting plan has been approved by the DC Council. Allen intends to appoint a commission of residents, excluding elected ANC commissioners. The process will take roughly two mouths. It will follow the model of 2010. Each SMD will contain approximately 2,000 residents. Allen welcomed all feedback from commissioners. Allen is open to an ANC crossing ward boundaries, which is allowed under DC law.

MPD First District Captain Darren Haskis briefed the commission on public safety. Violent crime is around the same as last year, Haskins said. While there were no burglaries, motor vehicle theft doubled compared to last year in the past month. There was a carjacking at gun point, he stated, in front of the HUD building on the evening of Jan 9. The car was later recovered.

Pepco Public A airs Manager Jamaal Jordan provided an update on the utility’s Capital Grid Project. The section in the commission will be completed by June of 2022.

The commission unanimously: • approved a restaurant license with an indoor entertainment endorsement along with a community agreement for Pink Taco, 100

M Street SE; • approved a restaurant license for & Pizza, 55 M St. SE; • decided not to take action on the change of hours requested by Tap 99, 1250 Half Street, SE; • approved a letter to DPW detailing enforcement and tra c marking concerns at 1103 Half Street

SW; • approved its FY22 Q1 Quarterly

Financial Report; • approved a resolution celebrating the 50th Anniversary of DC

Home Rule.

ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is Feb. 14, 2022 via Zoom. For more information and links to join ANC meetings, visit www.anc6d.org. ◆ PRESERVATION CAFE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 6:30 PM

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Tiber Creek, Northeast Side of the Capitol, 1889 LOC

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