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The principals of Florida Rock, the massive development proposed for the area south of Nationals Park, asked Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D to support their request to the DC Zoning Commission for a two-year delay in a start date for the project. Like many Southeast projects, according to David Briggs of Holland and Knight, the developer’s attorney, the equity venture and construction financing the principals need is not available “into the foreseeable future,” and their planned unit development (PUD) expires next June. He said they have “worked assiduously” to find the funding, with no success, and finding tenants these days is “not easy.” While it may take longer before they begin, they have requested only a two-year delay because the Zoning Commission will not grant a longer extension at one time.

The four-building development, which has received ANC support in the past, includes office, retail, residential and hotel space, a waterfront promenade, bike path and parks and has been in the planning stages for 12 years, largely because of design changes requested by the Zoning Commission, with some due to the ballpark construction. Briggs did reassure the commission that they are moving forward on those things they can: consolidating the property into a single square; working with the District Department of Transportation on plans for a Florida Rock-financed oval at the foot of the to-be-reconfigured South Capitol Street Bridge; and continuing their work with the Earth Conservation Corps on Diamond Teague Park and the pier at its foot.

Commissioner Ron McBee asked about their participation in community activities, and Briggs said that Florida Rock had worked with the Earth Conservation Corps since 1995. Commissioner Roger Moffatt raised questions about the height and siting of the development’s buildings, issues that have always troubled him.

A motion to support the extension passed by a vote of 5-2.

Safeway Voluntary Agreement Leads to Commission Fireworks
Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Committee Chair Coralie Farlee reported that positive progress was being made in voluntary agreement negotiations for beer and wine sales at the soon-to-be-opened Safeway at Waterfront Station. Farlee and McBee have been working with Safeway management, but Commissioner David Sobelsohn expressed concern that the ANC’s Safeway Task Force was not being consulted on provisions being included in the document.

Chair Andy Litsky suggested that since there was currently an ANC-authorized negotiation in progress, any task force recommendations could be submitted to the negotiating team in writing. Citing the task force’s expertise, Sobelsohn replied that it should be a collaborative effort.

McBee pointed out that this will be a new Safeway, and there is no history in the current store with beer and wine sales. He also added that he had attended the task force meetings, and the issues did not arise. Sobelsohn said that he wanted to see the document, would not submit written comments and would vote against any voluntary agreement that doesn’t include input from the task force.

Moffett proposed a motion recommending that the Safeway Task Force note any suggestions it has for inclusion in the voluntary agreement and submit them to the negotiators in writing. The motion passed 5-1-1, with Sobelsohn opposed and Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton abstaining.

Marriage Equality Legislation Supported
With an eloquent introduction pointing out that the fight for marriage equality was the latest fight in the nation’s long history of civil rights struggles, Sobelsohn introduced a resolution in support of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009. The lengthy resolution points out that not only is denying full civil-marriage rights to same-sex couples contrary to the spirit and tradition of the DC Human Rights Law, but that it preserves the “absolute discretion” of religious groups and clergy whether to “perform, solemnize or recognize marriages,” and thereby “civil marriage equality would advance and protect the constitutional rights of religious institutions and associations and their members.”

The Rev. Ruth Hamilton, co-pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, said that it’s an issue of the separation of church and state and spoke strongly in support. The Rev. Michael Bledsoe of Southwest’s Riverside Baptist Church, who could not be at the meeting, sent a letter of support in which he quoted Martin Luther as rejecting marriage as a sacrament. “That is, he understood the church to bless marriage, but he believed marriage to be primarily a civil matter that should be extended to anyone, whether a member of the Christian church or not.”

And the Rev. Martha Clark of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church also sent a message of support.

Audience comment was heavily in support, except for Southwest Neighborhood Assembly President Caroline Mitchell who said that she is an ordained minister and is opposed to the legislation. The resolution passed unanimously, and Sobelsohn was authorized to represent the commission at an Oct. 26 DC Council hearing.

In Other Actions…

The ANC:

• Voted unanimously to support a request for a BZA special exception from existing zoning for a new bed and breakfast at 1026 Third St. SE, near the Navy Yard. Paul Broom, a retired naval officer plans to open a nautical-themed three-story establishment called Casa Degli Angeli at the site. 
• Approved plans for the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation Half Marathon on Nov. 7, after discussing concerns about its impact on buses and residents’ ability to get in and out of the neighborhood. The race organizer committed to publicizing it in the Southwester; circulating copies of flyers in the neighborhood; working with the mayor’s office to check on the race’s impact on the 30’s and 70 buses; and making sure there are breaks in the race for street-crossing.
• Approved a letter to the Department of Parks and Recreation requesting installation of a new pump before next spring to circulate the water in the pond at the park at Sixth and I streets SW.