8 minute read
Afterhours Construction Permitting Debated; ANC 6D Report by Andrew Lightman
tively innocuous, but I’ll be glad to listen to other people’s reactions.”
Commissioner Kelty (6C05) expressed hesitation about implementing these games of skill and emphasized the importance of providing guidance to the committee.
“I may be in the minority here, but I’m very skeptical about whether this is really such a great idea on H Street,” Kelty said. “I think we have to give (these establishments) a mandate as to what we want them to do.”
The committee plans to meet and continue discussions about these endorsements at the ANC 6C December meeting.
Short-Term Rental Rulemaking
Commissioner Eckenwiler (6C04) discussed recommendations from the committee about proposed changes to short-term rental policies for rentals such as Airbnb in the District.
Eckenwiler expressed confusion about inconsistencies of how property owners can identify their homes; short-term rentals and vacation rentals. For a property to be considered a short-term rental the owner must be present and the property must be their primary residence. For vacation rentals, landlords may rent out a non-primary residence without the requirement of being onsite for up to 90 days per calendar year. The current legislation states that a property owner must select one of these classifications for their property, however in another section, it says that they can select both.
Kelty expressed concern about the legislation calling it “completely unenforceable.”
“The notion that you can get an exemption from the 90 day limit doesn’t make sense to me, if you have to be out of town for more than 90 days, the solution is simple: register as a rental property and rent your property out. I just think that that exemption is ripe for abuse, and I’m sure it will be abused,” Kelty said.
Eckenwiler also discussed the regulations pertaining to parking in both short-term and vacation rentals. Parking is not currently in the rulemaking and the committee recommends including a recommendation to add regulations into the new proposal with the DC council. Kelty expressed disagreement with adding in these regulations citing their unenforceable nature. He said it could cause issues beyond parking into a public disregard other city rules.
“I think the one challenge with throwing in rules that are completely unenforceable is that people are will know they’re enforceable,” Kelty said. “I suspect that it creates a tendency to just disregard all rules, and I know that’s a bigger thing than short term rentals, but something I think we should think about as a community.”
The ANC voted unanimously after discussion and deliberation to send a letter to DCRA regarding their suggestions for the legislation as well as the parking enforcement for both types of rentals.
Additional Items
• The Giant grocery store (300 H Street NE) and Union Kitchen (538 Third Street) liquor licenses are up for renewal and the ANC voted unanimously to protest these renewals on all three grounds, as the Alcohol and Beverage Licencing Committee recommended, citing ongoing issues with delivery trucks idling at both locations. • Kwan discussed a traffic calming request that was made for Fifth St. NE between Eighth St.
NE and Florida Ave. NE. The transportation and public space committee recommended the
ANC send a letter to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to support traffic calming measures, particularly adding or reconfiguring speed humps along the road in response to expected results of the traffic safety assessment recently conducted. The motion to send a letter to DDOT was passed unanimously by the ANC. • The DC Council is hosting a roundtable discussion and is accepting community feedback through virtual or written means until the end of the month regarding the slow streets initiative. The committee recommended the ANC submit a testimony to the council regarding street closures, mid-block signage and crosswalk sign locations. • Commissioner Kelty reported that the ANC 6C account was reconciled exactly and that there were no new expenses to report for November. • The leaf collection program started the week of
Nov. 9 and will continue throughout November This year, the city is not collecting bags of leaves and is requesting that residents sweep leaves out to the street for pickup. The pickup dates for specific locations can be found on the city’s website.
ANC 6C will meet next on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. virtually via Webex. Find the link to the meeting, agendas and more information about the commission at www.anc6c.org.
Sarah Payne is a History and Neuroscience student at The University of Michigan interning with HillRag. She writes for and serves as an assistant news editor for Michigan’s student newspaper, The Michigan Daily. You can reach her at sarahp@hillrag.com. u
Afterhours Construction Permitting Debated
ANC 6D RepoRt
by Andrew Lightman
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met Nov. 16 over WebEx. Commissioners Gail Fast (6D01), Ronald Collins (6D03), Andy Litsky (6D04), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D05), Rhonda Hamilton (6D06) and Edward Daniels (6D07) were in attendance. Anna Forgie, chair of ANC 6D02 Committee also participated.
Anthony Diallo, community outreach specialist from the Dept. of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), gave an overview of the agency’s operations. Commissioners brought up the issue of the Novell exterior neon lighting. They also quizzed him about afterhours construction permits in particular involving utility companies.
Afterhours permits are supposed to be approved by the Commission. Utility companies often take advantage of emergency exemptions to this rule, according to commissioners. Commissioner Daniels stated he had discovered lots of incorrect permits.
“The way the process is working now there is no benefit,” stated Commissioner Colling pointedly.
Diallo stated that responsibility for approving such permits was being shifted from DCRA to the DC Dept. of Transportation (DDOT) Public Space
administration. However, he added, the agencies had not finalized the transfer. Listky asked for the opportunity for the commission to comment on the operational changes. It needs to be clear who is in charge of what, DCRA or DDOT,” stated Commissioner Litsky.
Litsky pointed out that The Wharf had received three stop work orders. In none of the instances, had the city informed him as the commissioner representing that Single Member District (SMD). Diallo pointed out that such orders are a matter of public record. Litsky responded that nevertheless the agency should inform the commission.
Talking Transportation
DDOT Ward 6 Community Engagement Specialist Andrew DeFrank briefed the commission on his department’s Ward 6 projects. DDOT will install a traffic light at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and I Streets SE in 2021, he stated. Moreover, he promised increased enforcement against delivery vehicles illegally parked in the crosswalk on the southwest side of the intersection making deliveries to Harry’s Liquors. If a commissioner witnesses a DDOT vehicle blocking a crosswalk, please call him, he instructed.
Commissioner Daniels pointed out that the striping and flex posts were missing on I Street SE between New Jersey and South Capitol. “In my opinion, the situation (on I Street SE) is now working well for residents,” he stated.
Other Matters
MPD Captain Jonathan Dorrough briefed commissioners on public safety. There has been a significant decrease in property crime. However, violent crime is up 71 percent. In particular, thieves are targeting delivery vehicles for “hop in” thefts. Last month, there were nine such incidents in ANC 6D. Public Service Area (PSA) 107 saw four armed robberies and one assault with a deadly weapon. A shooting took place at the Waterside Metro. There was a domestic homicide at 101 Fourth St. SW. There were two robberies including one assault of a Vespa rider. PSA 105 saw two assaults with deadly weapons and a shooting injuring a man in the leg. PSA 106 saw two robberies both involving guns including one carjacking.
“We are concerned about the increase in gun violence in the city as a whole,” stated Dorrough. “It’s just terrifying,” said Commissioner Hamilton, commenting on the shooting in her neighbor that involved multiple rounds from a high caliber weapon.
There has been progress on the new Southwest Library, Friends of the Southwest Library reported. Its opening is imminent.
Commissioners heard a presentation from the organizers of the Southwest Community Center. The Center is a 6,000 square foot facility tentatively opening in October of 2023. Chair Ashton Rohmer and members of the Center’s Communications Committee gave a rundown of their efforts to map social assets in Southwest and solicit community engagement. For more information, visit www.swdccc.org.
The ANC voted to: • approve the October and September minutes; • send a letter to the Zoning Commission opposing the neo exterior lighting on the
Novell building; • send a letter to the DC Attorney General about the safety of cellular mono poles close to residences; • send a letter to the DC Dept. of Health (DOH) requesting a permanent COVID testing site in Southwest; • send a letter to Toll Brothers regarding the size of the loading dock at its Park Riverside II development; • supported the applications for liquor licenses and cooperative agreements for
Boomerang Boats and the Hilton National Mall (1300 Maine Ave. SW); • appointed Matthew Leddy as an At-Large representative to the commissions Alcohol Beverage Committee.
ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting of ANC 6D is for Dec. 14 via Webex. For more information and links to join ANC meetings, visit anc6d.org. u
Additions & Basement Experts
BUFFALO COMPANY, LLC
www.buffalocompanyusa.com
For all your Construction Needs
ADDITIONS
RENOVATIONS
REMODELING
KITCHENS
Over 16 Years of Experience INTERIORS
REHAB
Craftsmanship Custom Made Cabinets & Furniture References Available
Owned & Operated by a Capitol Hill Resident
