ANC6B RETAIL MIX TASK FORCE REPORT TO THE ANC

 

Part I:  Background and Charge

 

For several years ANC6B wrestled with the question of a desirable mix of retail establishments along the main commercial corridors in the southern portion of Capitol Hill.  In response to growing public concern regarding the loss of commercial space to non-retail businesses and the increasing number of restaurants and drinking establishments in the community, ANC6B appointed a Retail Mix Task Force (RTMF) in February 2010.  The RTMF was charged to consider the range of options available to the ANC and the community, and to investigate possible interim strategies to address these problems while the community develops longer term strategies for achieving a balanced retail mix.  The letter of charge establishing the RMTF is found in Appendix A of this report.

 

The RTMF was staffed in November 2010. Starting in December 2010, the RTMF hosted three public meetings where we heard from 1) Commissioners in ANCs that have operational moratoriums, 2) retailers and restaurateurs, and 3) property owners and commercial developers.  The following recommendations for action by ANC6B are based on these meetings and our own professional perspectives and personal commitments to the community. Our recommendations are made in response to our charge but also in the spirit of putting on record that the ANC must exhibit eternal vigilance in guarding against public policies or private actions that serve to degrade the quality of life in our neighborhood or any other. Conversely, our recommendations attempt to be proactive and stress development of policies and actions that serve to enhance the commercial area within the jurisdiction of the ANC.

 

Part II:  Recommendations for Short Term Implementation

 

  1. ANC6B should not pursue any kind of moratorium on new liquor license applications for Barracks Row or anywhere else in 6B.  A moratorium would put constraints on future development and could promote an “enough already” attitude that might cause prospective retailers and developers to believe the community is not receptive to new businesses.  
  2. ANC6B should adopt a clear set of principles for use in considering liquor license applications.  Part III of this report contains a draft set of principles for consideration by the Commission.
  3. ANC6B should continue to communicate with the ABC Board regarding the importance of great weight, consideration and enforcement of Voluntary Agreements executed by liquor license applicants and ANC6B.

4.      ANC6B should coordinate a comprehensive inspection of commercial alleys, sidewalks and public space in the community with staff from Mayor Gray’s office (City Administrator, Clean City office, DCRA, DDOT, DPW, Department of Health, etc.) to develop an action plan to improve conditions based on those inspections. This could be undertaken by the Capitol Hill BID, BRMS, and/or CHAMPS with a written report to ANC6B that also includes a plan for on-going maintenance.

5.      ANC6B should coordinate with DC Council Members and DDOT to perform a parking study that expands upon the Performance Parking Program and previous study implemented with the opening of the Nationals ballpark.  Specific questions include:

a.       Identify who is parking on residential streets and at what hours and days to adjust the restriction hours, number of permit-only spaces, and parking meter costs & hours.

b.      At what times (or events) does parking by non-residents occur, e.g., before, during, or after scheduled Nationals games? USMC parades? Workdays?

c.       Identify additional spaces that can be offered as metered spaces, residential or commercial zones, etc.

6.      ANC6B should identify uses for enhanced revenue from expanded performance parking plan and appoint a single commissioner, taskforce or committee to lead this effort.

7.      The ANC6B should  work with Barracks Row Main Street, CHAMPS,  the Capitol Hill and River Front BIDS and DDOT to increase promotion of the parking lot under the freeway, including consideration of the following ideas;

a.       Have businesses and USMC promote and offer discounts for parking in the lot under the freeway.

b.      Work with employers create incentives for employees to park in the lot

c.       Work with business owners to institute a shuttle from there to the restaurants.

d.      Work with DDOT to lower the per-hour cost in the lot.

e.       Work with DDOT to make the lot more attractive and secure by adding lighting, signage, completing the mural that is part of the lot and landscaping.

  1. ANC6B should work with the Capitol Hill BID, CHAMPS and other organizations to improve security and safety within the neighborhood.  In addition, ANC6B should encourage the BID to work directly with businesses and residents to develop cooperative solutions to noise and parking issues.

9.      ANC6B should work with the appropriate authority to ensure enforcement of regulations for valet parking services to ensure that customer vehicles are not parked in public spaces.

10.   ANC6B should identify mechanisms and methods to strengthen cooperation among local business groups to enhance the efficacy in their individual marketing and business development strategies.   To this end, the Task Force recommends continued participation in the Capitol Hill Retail Mix Task Force, the umbrella organization composed of representatives from BRMS, CHAMPS and all others focusing on retail retention, expansion and recruitment. Participation in this organization by the ANC will reduce duplication of effort and prevent splintering of public interest in retail mix.  We recommend that ANC6B work closely with the Capitol Hill Retail Mix Task Force to

a.       Promote our area as a family-friendly shopping destination with the belief that active branding will attract the shoppers and retailers we want.

b.      Engage a broad spectrum of landlords, retailers and neighbors in Task Force activities, and that

c.       The Task Force should inquire into the creation of tax incentives to spur target investment (it is noted that this may be particularly urgent during the construction period for the CSX tunnel).  The Commissioners designated to serve on this Task Force should provide regular reports to the Commission and request a final report from the Task Force to ANC6B.

  1. Individual Commissioners should act as ambassadors for business development appropriate with the existing qualities of the neighborhood.

 

PART III:  Principles for Consideration of Liquor Licenses and Related Matters

 

ANC6B is proud to have been part of the remarkable transformation of Barracks Row (8th Street, SE. D to I Streets) from an area often avoided in the evenings to a vibrant and welcoming place.  It is dedicated to ensuring that the successes of recent years endure and to contributing to continued growth of the area.   Drawing on that experience, we learned that active dialog among businesses, residents and other stakeholders will assure maintenance of a vibrant commercial sector within a livable neighborhood.

 

Toward that end, ANC6B should apply the following principles in considering ABC applications and related matters that come before it:

 

1.      Applications will be reviewed against the best standards now in place set by existing restaurants and retailers. “Best standards” in this context means those practices followed by neighborhood restaurants and retailers that over time have proved harmonious with residential concerns.

2.      ANC6b will generally favor restaurant (CR) licenses over tavern (CT) licenses.

3.      Given that Capitol Hill is primarily a residential neighborhood, any application for an ABC license that comes before ANC6B should include a management plan that addresses the potential for negative impact on near-by residents and the community in general.  Components of a management plan to be considered include:

a.       Closing hours, using as guidance the hours that the ANC6B has set out in recent Voluntary Agreement.

b.      Seating capacity

c.       Provisions for proper maintenance of the area surrounding the establishment including, entrance(s) and exit(s), outdoor seating areas, sidewalk and dumpster area.  

d.      Provision of parking for staff and guests.

e.       Provisions to control noise levels inside the establishment, to include roof gardens and outdoor seating areas and disposal of trash at closing.

f.         Provisions to control loitering within the establishment’s immediate area.

 

The particulars for each principle will differ by circumstance (i.e., the nature of the request), therefore, prior to making application applicants are strongly urged to informally discuss their plans with the responsible ANC Commissioner(s), local residents, and community organizations, such as citizens’ groups, CHAMPS and BRMS.

 

APPENDIX I:  Letter of Charge:  ANC6B Retail Mix Task Force

 

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Special Committee on Retail Mix

 

For some years now, this Commission has wrestled with the question of what our community's vision is for a desirable mix of retail establishments along the main commercial corridors in the southern portion of Capitol Hill.  The composition of our commercial blocks continues to be in flux and we are likely to see more changes in the years ahead.  One strong trend that has dominated these changes, especially along Barracks Row, has been the steady flow of new eating and drinking establishments displacing retail.  In other areas, we have seen a loss of street-level retail in favor of office uses. 

 

Over the past six months, an informal "roundtable" of business and civic groups in the ANC 6B area has been discussing the options that may be available to better market our commercial areas with the objective of encouraging a healthy mix of retail uses throughout the area.  Our Commission has helped organize that roundtable and participates actively in the discussions. While that important effort continues, ANC 6B will likely face numerous decisions in the near term concerning zoning, public space, historic preservation, and liquor license applications.  While each decision on any of these cases is made on the specifics of the situation, we face the possibility that cumulatively these decisions will move us in a direction that the community, both residential and retail, and ANC6B does not want to go.

 

To address this concern, under the authority given the Chair by the ANC 6B bylaws, I am this evening announcing the appointment of a special committee of ANC 6B.  The charge to the committee is to consider the range of options available to the ANC and the community and to investigate possible interim strategies to address these problems while the community develops longer term strategies for achieving a balanced retail mix.  For now, we will refer to this as the Special Committee on Retail Mix.

 

Commissioner Ken Jarboe will chair the committee.  Commissioner Norm Metzger will be the vice chair.  In the tradition of this Commission, all other Commissioners are invited to participate in this special committee's deliberations.  I especially urge those Commissioners whose Single Member Districts include significant commercial segments to join in the work of this committee.  As one of those Commissioners, I intend to be an active member of this special committee.  

 

I request that the Retail Mix Committee report back to the Commission at its regular meeting in April on its proposed initial work plan.  The committee's meetings, and any hearings it conducts, will be announced via the ANC 6B email list and posted on the 6B web page.  I further request that the committee set as an objective bringing to the Commission its initial recommendations for action, if any, no later than early fall and sooner if feasible. 

 

I want to thank Commissioners Jarboe and Metzger for stepping forward to take on this important assignment.  I look forward to the committee discussions to follow and the prospect of actionable options for this Commission to consider.