ANC 6C Licensing Committee Chair Gerald Morrissey reported on the progress of community discussions related to whether or not ANC 6C would pursue a moratorium on the sale of single servings of alcoholic beverages along H Street, west of Eighth Street, similar to the newly-enacted moratorium on single sales east of Eighth Street.

Several open meetings have been held in the past year. During the most recent meeting, Oct. 24, one store owner said he did not think he had a problem with the moratorium since singles only accounted for 15 to 20 percent of his sales. In contrast, the owner of H Street Liquors claimed that 60 to 80 percent of his sales were from singles.

Another issue, said Morrissey, was that licenses have changed hands; one store is in a location that has a non-conforming use, and another store has just been sold.

Additional meetings will be held before a decision is made.

National Law Enforcement Museum
Representatives of the National Law Enforcement Museum presented plans for the museum to be constructed near the National Law Enforcement Monument, in the 400 block of E Street NW. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2009 after restoration of the District’s first municipal building (1820), which will be the US Court of Appeals.

The structure, with two stories above ground and two stories below, will be the District’s first “green” museum, said architect Davis Buckley. It will have numerous interactive galleries devoted to the history and technology of law enforcement in this country and tributes to current law enforcement activities and officers. The District is providing $9 million in industrial revenue bonds, and they anticipate 600,000 visitors annually.

The federal project, which was approved by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission on Fine Arts, did not come before the ANC. Commissioners were troubled by this federal planning process that ignores local communities and gives no control to affected ANCs. A motion was passed unanimously to send a letter to the NCPC, CFA and DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, commending the building’s design but opposing the planning process that left out ANC input.

Senate Square Apartments
The Planning, Zoning and Environment Committee reported that the apartments at Senate Square, the two residential towers that are part of the Children’s Museum development, will, because of real estate market conditions, be marketed as rental units, rather than condominiums as was originally planned and applied for. The issue, several commissioners emphasized, is not that rental units are bad – and in fact, they can be a substantial addition to the community’s residential mix – rather the change in status was not made in consultation with the community or the Zoning Commission, and the process should be followed. The commissioners unanimously passed a motion to submit a formal complaint to the Zoning Commission, pointing out that the developer, Broadway Development, is out of compliance with its planned unit development. 

Alley Closings
The commission approved MidAtlantic Realty’s request to create a gated alley at Sixth and K streets NW. The 10-foot-by-1-foot alleyway is currently unused, except by loiterers seeking space to congregate; once gated, only those who need access to the alley will have a key. The ANC has previously supported requests for variances and special exceptions for the project at the BZA.

Representatives of the office of the deputy mayor for economic development requested support for alley closings on a street over Interstate 395 between Second and Third Street and E Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW. The unused alleys were never officially closed, and the action is necessary as the deputy mayor begins a development process for that location. Discussion of the closing was postponed until more information can be gathered.

Special Election Results
A special election for a new 6C06 commissioner was held during the first half of the Nov. 14 meeting. Residents elected longtime Capitol Hill activist and former ANC member Tom Hamilton to replace Terry Heubert, who moved out of his single member district. Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells swore Hamilton in following the election.

Other Licensing News

1. Outstanding issues with Wolfgang Puck’s new restaurant, Proof, and catering business, located at the new Newseum building, have been resolved, and the ANC will not protest its license.
2. Pap and Petey’s, a new bar at 421 H St. NE, whose license the ANC had previously approved, required another letter of support in order to begin its operations. The commission voted unanimously to send a second letter of support to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
3. Commissioner Docter reported that his attempt to reach a joint voluntary agreement with three H Street NW liquor stores – the Chinatown Market, Subway Liquors and Good’s Liquors – had fallen apart. The owner of Subway Liquors was killed in a holdup, and the new owner is unwilling to sign a new agreement. Morrissey suggested that the Licensing Committee work with the stores to negotiate a new agreement.

Roll Call
Commissioners present at Nov. 14 meeting: Chair Karen Wirt, 6C08; Co-Vice Chair and Public Safety Committee Chair Mark Dixon, 6C02; Treasurer and Grants Committee Chair Lena Brown, 6C03 (arrived near the meeting’s end); Anne Phelps, 6C04; Secretary Alan Kimber, 6C05; Planning, Zoning and the Environment Committee Chair Ryan Velasco, 6C07. Co-Vice Chair Charles Docter, 6C09.
Absent: Keith Silver, 6C01.

ANC 6C next meets Dec. 12, 7 p.m., at the Heritage Foundation located at 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. For more information, call 202-547-7168 or visit www.anc6c.org.