November 15, 2004

Monthly meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C (ANC 3C)

Attendees: Nancy MacWood, Allen Hahn, Nancy Nord, Trudy Reeves, Sally MacDonald, Sheila Hogan, John Welsh, Kurt Vorndran

Commissioners-elect: Dia Black (ANC3C01), Deborah Lindemann (ANC3C02), Stephanie Zobay (ANC3C03), Avi Fechter (ANC3C04), Bruce Beckner (ANC3C05)

Meeting called to order. Chair MacWood announced that the public had been noticed concerning the meeting and that a quorum of commissioners were present at this meeting. The Chair announced that there would be a minor change to the agenda to permit Mary Ellen Gizzy, representative from the Emergency Management Agency, to address the attendees. Ms. Gizzy announced that training sessions would be rolled-out, ward by ward, to prepare citizens for emergency situations. The meetings will be 3-hour “Table-Talks” and will begin in the January-February 2005 timeframe.

The Chair recognized that Mr. Brett Roullier of DDoT was in attendance.

St. Albans School Expansion issue. The ANC 3C is not considering any specifics about the construction plan being presented tonight. Presenters: Jeffrey Baker, Past president of the school’s governing body; Richard Williams, architect; and David Baker, current president of the governing body. Presentation was initial introduction to community showing proposed construction of new athletic fields and a performing arts center. The center will be constructed below ground and will hold between 600-625 people. It will be shared with the National Cathedral School. The project is being targeted for completion in the Autumn of 2006 (sports field in Spring 2006). Expect to be back to the ANC 3C in January 2005. Presentation ended at 8:15 p.m.

CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS

3027 Rodman Street, NW Special Exception to extend the current 3.6 foot side yard allowance on the east side of the house to accommodate a proposed addition. 7 voted for, 1 abstention,

0 opposed.

2909 Porter Street, NW HPRB application to restore front façade to original design, remove carport, add mudroom to east side façade and bay window to west side façade, and a two-story addition to the rear. 6 voted for, 1 abstention, 0 opposed.

COMMISSION BUSINESS

HPRB application to construct new Buddhist Church at 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, on a subdivided lot that is part of the Babcock-Macomb landmark, which houses the Cape Verde Embassy. Presenter: Bill Aiken, Director of Church. Since 1968, the church has been located in Mt. Ranier, MD. The congregation meets the first Sunday of every month. Approximately 200 people attend that service. Bill indicated that the project is fully funded. Bill Helmuth, architect indicated that, since the ANC3C’s HPRB/Zoning meeting of the prior week, he had modified the plans so that vehicles would enter from and exit to Massachusetts Avenue instead of through the alley. All mechanical equipment will be confined within the building. There are no zoning issues regarding locating a church within a residential neighborhood. This is a matter of right. There will be no new curb cuts and whoever buys or develops the property would have to use the same driveway as the Cape Verde Embassy. The zoning requires the church to provide 30 parking spaces; however, the construction plans call for 41 spaces. Commissioner Nord presented a resolution opposing the project. There were some amendments to the resolution so that the ANC3C opposed the project as presented. The opposition was based on the significant negative impacts on the adjacent historic Babcock-Macomb property: Is this construction incompatible with the landmark structure? The plans are gong to HPRB on November 18, 2004, for concept approval. Vote (roll call): 4 in favor, 1 abstention, 3 opposed.

Washington International School Follow up to an earlier presentation to the ANC3C. The school has relocated the proposed theatre and re-graded the playing fields to lower them. Commissioner MacWood introduced a resolution in favor of the plan. Commissioner Hahn seconded. Vote: All were in favor of the resolution.

3530 Newark Street, NW HPRB application to build a new house. Travis Price, architect, presented plans. Vote: All voted in favor of approving the plan (8-0-0).

3040 Rodman Street, NW HPRB application to remove back porch and construct two-story addition on this semi-detached house. Architect presented plans. Neighbors from 3042 Rodman Street spoke in opposition. They have been living there since 1996. Another neighbor, James McGovern, 3038 Rodman Street, indicated that he has a limited personal interest in this matter since he is selling his house and personally does not object to the construction. As for the actual impact on 3038 Rodman, he said he would defer to whoever buys his house. Nancy Robenstein, a neighbor to the east, said that they really enjoy having the green space in the back yard. Question became one of what are the neighbors proposing? A smaller structure? no structure? Neighbors say they understand the rights of others to build on their own property but feel that the plan is insensitive to the neighborhood. Peter Espensheid expressed concern that the process that has been underway has goon badly, that applicants have been insensitive to neighbors. Understands that the ANC is still trying to obtain information and feels the ANC’s recommendation should be to deny if the application is going to be heard by HPRB before the next ANC meeting. Architect is willing to get the applicant and the neighbors together. Commissioner Welsh made a motion that the ANC3C oppose the application as the massing and design of the addition is not consistent with other houses in the immediate neighborhood and is not in keeping with the look and feel for the materials and surrounding Cleveland Park neighborhood. Commissioner Welsh moved the motion, Commissioner Vorndran seconded. The opposition to the application was unanimous.

Revision to ANC3C Bylaws Commissioner Reeves proposed resolution to amend Article VII, Section 3. This matter will come before the ANC3C for vote during its December 2004 meeting.

Swiss Ambassador’s Residence on Cathedral Avenue and 29th Street, NW. Commissioner MacDonald introduced resolution opposing the removal of public parking to accommodate the Swiss Embassy’s construction project. Commissioner MacDonald moved the resolution, Commissioner Vorndran seconded. Commission unanimously approved the resolution opposing removal of parking (7-0-0) Commissioner Hogan had left the meeting.

American University Decrease the visual impact of signage for the Greenberg Theatre on Wisconsin Avenue, NW. Resolution introduced by Commissioner Reeves. Resolution moved, seconded by Commissioner Hahn. Vote to support resolution was unanimous (7-0-0).

Letter from ANC3C to Mr. Calvert Sawyers. Commissioner Vorndran proposed that the ANC3C send a letter to the WMATA commending Mr. Sawyers, a METRO engineer, for his excellent work in calmly instructing passengers to quickly exit the METRO train and leave the station in anticipation of a collision with another runaway METRO car. Commissioner Welsh seconded the motion. All were in favor (7-0-0).

Meeting adjourned at midnight.