Minutes of Regular Meeting

Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 7 PM

 

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Commissioners Present: Ken Jarboe (chairing), Francis Campbell,[1] Neil Glick, Will Hill, Carol Green, Kirsten Oldenburg, Michael Patterson, and Mary Wright

 

Commissioners Absent: Dave Garrison and Julie Olson

 

Also in attendance: ANC 6B Executive Director, Bert Randolph

 

1.      Adoption of Agenda

 

Following the introduction of the Commission, the Commission adopted the agenda, as amended, a copy of which is attached.

 

2.      Community Speakout

 

No presentations

 

3.      Commission and Community Announcements.

 

·        Commissioner Jarboe announced a Special Call Meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at 7 pm at the ONH to discuss and vote on revisions to ANC6B’s By-Laws. 

·        Commissioner Oldenburg announced that Capitol Hill Restoration Society will hold its next Preservation Café on March 18, 2009, at 6:30pm at Ebenezers Coffeehouse.  The topic will be Gardening Green.

 

4.      Planning and Zoning Committee

 

·        HPA # 09-046, 321 6th Street, SE – Revised concept/rear addition

 

Commissioner Oldenburg[2], reported that the Committee recommends approval of the applicant’s revised concept for the rear addition since there were no issues of contention related to historic preservation.  The owner and architect were present and had no new information.  Commissioner Jarboe noted that the letters of opposition were regarding air and light issues, which are applicable to a zoning case, but not a historic preservation case.  If the case comes back as a zoning case then the air and light issues will be germane at that time.  The Commission voted (6-0-1) to support the application.

 

·        HPA # 09-125, 637 South Carolina Avenue, SE – Concept/extend existing third story

 

Commissioner Oldenburg reported that the Committee recommends approval of the application for a rear addition.  As new information, the applicant provided letters of support from 631 and 635 South Carolina Avenue and photographs of the rear of the property as requested by the Committee.  The neighbor from 633 South Carolina was present and supported the application but voiced concerns about the exterior walls of the addition matching the rest of the structure.  The applicant stated the other neighbors asked that the paint on the new addition be the same as the current color of the structure.

 

Commissioner Oldenburg moved, with a second by Commissioner Wright, that the Committee Report be amended to add at the end of the last sentence: “with the understanding the owner will take into consideration the concerns of the neighbors regarding the finished exterior walls.”  The Commission vote on the motion to amend the report was (7-1) and the vote on the amended report was unanimous (8-0).

 

HPA # 09-???, 400 First Street, SE – Remodeling rear and side trash holding areas

 

Commissioner Campbell reported that the Committee finds no objections to these simple requests and recommends this case for approval by the ANC.  Commissioner Jarboe stated the original plans included a more elaborate treatment to the trash holding area but legal concerns arose regarding easement rights.  With no new information presented, the Commission voted unanimously (8-0) to approve the application.

 

HPA #09-143, 237 8th Street, SE – Rear addition

 

Commission Campbell reported that, although there were issues expressed by a neighbor concerning air and light, these issues are not germane to this HPA case.  The Committee recommended the project for approval by the ANC. 

 

Mike Fowler, the architect, and Susan Gwilliam, the owner, stated they had presented the neighbor who had concerns about the potential impact on their air and light with sun studies that demonstrated the limited potential impact on her property from the proposed addition.  A tree in the rear of the property may need to be removed to make space for the proposed addition.  Mr. Fowler stated he would verify the diameter of the existing tree to determine if the tree can be replaced under current city regulations.

 

Commissioner Jarboe asked about the extent of historic fabric to be removed to facilitate the project.  Mr. Fowler explained that the mold problem in the structure is severe and throughout, even in the exterior dogleg brick wall.  This means an attempt to address the mold problem without completely removing the affected walls would not be effective.  The Commission voted (7-1) to approve the application.

 

5.      Eastern Market

 

Commissioner Jarboe reported that 7th Street SE between C Street and North Carolina Avenue will be closed until June 1, 2009.  This is expected to save 3 months of streetscape construction time.   EMCAC is committed to working with the affected businesses to help them get through this street closure period.   Commissioner Jarboe stated he will be a member of the EMCAC’s Application Advisory Committee.

 

6.      FY2009 Budget

 

Commissioner Green reported that ANC6B has a total of $96,471.38 available at the beginning of the fiscal year and that FY2009 disbursements are estimated at $43,839.50, leaving an ending balance of $52,631.88.  The Commission voted (8-0) on Commissioner Green’s motion to approve the FY2009 budget.

 

7.      Approval of Commission Minutes

 

The Commission voted (8-0) to approve the Minutes of the Regular February 2009 Meeting of the Commission.

 

8.      12. Adjournment

 

            The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:45 pm.

 

Prepared by Kirsten Oldenburg            Attest:                                       .

 

 

Attachments:

Planning and Zoning Committee Report

Agenda, as adopted

Report of the Planning and Zoning Committee

 

March 3, 2009, 7:00 pm

 

Commissioners present: Francis Campbell, Chair; Kirsten Oldenburg, Vice Chair; Carol Green, Kenan Jarboe, Bert Randolph, Staff Assistant

 

HPA # 09-046, 321 6th Street SE – Revised concept/rear addition

Jean & Chris Whaley, owner; Nuray Anahtar, architect. The applicants appeared before the Committee in December 2008 to present a larger three-story rear addition. The applicant is now appearing with an updated proposal of a two-story rear addition. The Committee appreciates the applicant’s work in addressing concerns voiced by ANC6B, HPRB and neighbors in its earlier incarnation. Of note is that the proposal is at 52% lot coverage up from the present 45% but the ANC has accepted 60% coverage in these cases for semidetached homes as similar to row/town house allotment. Noted again are the letters of opposition to the proposal by the adjacent neighbors but as there are no issues of contention, as directly related to historic preservation, the Committee recommends this proposal to the full ANC for approval.

 

HPA # 09-125, 637 South Carolina Ave. SE – Concept/extend existing third story

 

Brenda C Thornton, Owner, presenting. The applicant plans to modify an existing third story 27ft open deck to encompass a new bedroom and bath in the existing space and reduce the open deck to 12 ft. The lot occupancy and footprint would not change. Owner has provided letters of support from adjacent neighbors. The Committee requested the owner to provide letters of support from neighbors on E Street to whom the addition will be quite visible.  Of note in one letter of support the owner has agreed to paint the “the masonry wall of 637 South Carolina Ave SE so that it is the same color as the paint applied to the wall of the conversion/addition.” The Committee finds no issue with this proposal and recommends its approval to the full ANC

 

HPA #09-???, 400 First Street SE – Tortilla Coast Restaurant – remodeling rear and side trash holding areas

 

Robert Hetem, architect presenting.  The applicant proposes to remove an “awning over the existing door, convert the transom over the door to a glass pane and install a video monitor next to the transom. The Committee finds no objections to these simple requests and recommends this for approval to the full ANC

 

HPA #09-143, 237 8th Street SE – Rear addition

 

Mike Fowler, Architect, representing Bruce and Susan Gwilliam, owners. Applicants are proposing a two-story rear addition to an existing two story SFD. Present lot coverage is 43.3% and would increase to 56.7% with the addition. Rear yard would decrease from 67.5ft to 51.5ft.  Extensive demolition of the existing SFD to construct a new family room, new kitchen on the first floor and new bedroom, bath and closet areas on the second floor. The new addition will also enclose an existing rear dogleg. Owner has a letter of support from the adjacent neighbor at 239 8th St., SE, and a letter from the neighbor at 235 8th St., SE who expresses concerns of air and light. Although these are matters that may come before the ANC at a later date they are not germane to the present HPA case. Therefore, the Committee recommends this project for approval to the full ANC.

 

Meeting Agenda

March 10, 2009 – 7:00 PM

 

Agenda

 

1.      Adoption of Agenda

2.      Community Speakout

3.      Community and Commission Announcements

4.      Presentation

·        Gynecologic Cancer Foundation Half-Marathon and 5K Race November 8, 2009 – Lisa Marie Ordakowski, Race Director

5.      Planning and Zoning Committee

·        HPA # 09-046, 321 6th Street, SE – Revised concept/rear addition

·        HPA # 09-125, 637 South Carolina Avenue, SE – Concept/extend existing third story

·        HPA # 09-???, 400 First Street, SE – Tortilla Coast Restaurant – remodeling rear and side trash holding areas

·        HPA # 09-143, 237 8th Street, SE – Rear Addition

6.      Eastern Market

7.      FY2009 Budget

8.      Approval of Commission Minutes

9.      Adjournment

 

 

 


[1] Commissioner Campbell arrived as the second case in the Planning and Zoning Committee Report was being discussed.

[2] Commission Oldenburg as Vice Chair of Planning and Zoning Committee read the report in the absence of Commission Campbell.