Commissioners present at the June 12 meeting: Chairperson Julie Olsen 6B03 presiding, David Garrison 6B01, Mary Wright 6B02, Daniel Ostergaard 6B04, Ken Jarboe 6B05, Will Hill 6B06, Carol Green 6B07, and Antonette Russell 6B09; Neil Glick 6B08 joined shortly after the meeting was called to order; Francis Campbell 6B10 was absent.

Concerns Raised About Commercial Addition
At the June meeting, ANC 6B commissioners disagreed about a commercial addition planned for the northwest corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventh Street SE. The three-story addition above 327 Seventh St., now occupied by Ben & Jerry's, would extend to contiguous buildings, affecting 325 Seventh St., and 656, 660 and 666 Pennsylvania Ave. Variances are required for building height, floor area ratio, and off-street parking requirements.

The Planning and Zoning Committee recommended supporting the project. However, Commissioner Wright said that tenants of the Penn Mark building next door to the proposed project have specific concerns about material quality and construction procedures. In addition, they fear that an off-street parking variance would set “an undesirable precedent” for future developments in the area. Street-level retailers on Seventh Street said they feared they would be negatively affected by construction.

The project's architect, Amy Weinstein, explained that no below-grade parking could be added. She also pointed out that Bread and Chocolate had stayed in business throughout construction of the fourth-floor addition above it and said plans would similarly permit Montmartre, Ben & Jerry's, and other Seventh Street operations to continue.

In the only divided vote of the evening, commissioners voted 6-3-0 to support the variance requests.

The ANC supported two additional Board of Zoning Adjustment requests, a Historic Preservation Review Board postponement, and one Historic Preservation Application request. Commissioner Ostergaard offered the P&Z Committee report in the absence of Commissioner Campbell, committee chair.

Residential Projects, Eastern Market Changes Supported
A special exception for an addition to an existing two-story residential dwelling at 323 C St. SE was supported by a vote of 7-0-1, with Commissioner Olsen recusing herself and Commissioner Glick abstaining. Variances for an addition to a single-family row dwelling at 320 South Carolina Ave. SE were supported with a vote of 8-0-1; Commissioner Glick abstained, citing the lack of support letters from immediate neighbors.

Discussion of Eastern Market Restoration Plans centered around possible ill-effects on produce as a result of direct sunlight from skylights and the impact of special-event outdoor lighting on neighbors. The committee report had recommended supporting the plans. An amended report – including mention of concerns about skylights and outdoor lighting – was approved by a vote of 8-0, with Commissioner Ostergaard abstaining.

Church Plans Not Yet Vetted by Community
The Church of Latter-Day Saints plans to raze its existing building, once a Safeway, at 522 Seventh St. SE and replace it with a larger church structure. Although the P&Z Committee report called the planned structure too large and not in keeping with the neighborhood, commissioners noted that some changes had already been made in response to concerns expressed at the committee's June 5 meeting. They were not yet satisfied with the proposed building.

Architect Kevin Shearer said he was hoping for “conceptual approval” of the raze and re-build plans and was amenable to changes made in concert with the property's neighbors. However, the church had not yet begun the process of sharing its plans with neighbors on the block and seeking their input. The ANC voted unanimously to request HPRB postpone the case, allowing time for discussion by the community.

Following the P&Z report, Commissioner Jarboe raised two Zoning Commission issues – a clarification requested by the Office of Planning regarding residential garage structures, and opposing additional density in contradiction to the H Street Overlay. Both were approved by unanimous vote of the commissioners in the room.

Two Standards Needed for Liquor License Agreements
Commissioner Wright brought the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee report regarding 21 license renewals. The initial report recommended support for all establishments who had appeared before the committee and undertook standard voluntary agreements regarding trash pickup, cover charges, live entertainment and other issues; “no position” was recommended for those who did not appear. Several establishments were moved from the “no position” list to the “support” list – or vice versa – based on discussion at the full ANC meeting.

Representatives of  Banana Cafe, Belga Cafe and several other restaurants appeared at the full ANC meeting to note that the standard agreement prohibits live entertainment which they have been offering without complaint. The ANC moved to adjust voluntary agreements as specifically requested and to create two standard agreements – one permitting entertainment – for the future. In addition, Las Placitas appeared to discuss public space concerns raised about tables, used for alcohol and food consumption, encroaching on neighbors’ space. Tortilla Coast asked for a one-year limit to the voluntary agreement; commissioners said such agreements are meant to persist along with the liquor license but moved this restaurant's renewal to the “no position” category in order to address the request.

Renewals were supported for the following: Banana Cafe, Belga Cafe, Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill, Finn MacCool's, La Lomita, Las Placitas (pending voluntary agreement), Mr. Henry's, New York Avenue Pizza, Starfish Cafe, Sizzling Express, Szechuan House/Fusion Grill, Tratoria Alberto and Tunnicliff's. No position was taken on the following: Hunan Dynasty, Montmartre, Park Cafe, Sonoma Restaurant, Thai Roma, Tortilla Coast, Ugly Mug and Zack's.

Community Announcements and Speak Out
Jeff Davis, of the DC Office of Planning, announced a June 18 meeting to set a scope of work for planning in the area around the Potomac Avenue Metro station (roughly 11th Street on the west to the Congressional Cemetery on the east; D Street SE on the north to the expressway on the south).

Representatives of a planned Papa John's Pizza said they hope to employ neighbors of their new southeast location and expect to address BZA issues before the ANC in the fall.

Brian Cassidy, a community member, noted that area hedges continue to serve as hideouts for criminal activity, such as rock-throwing. He asked that the ANC facilitate cutting down such hedges in National Park and other public space. Chairperson Olsen asked each affected commissioner to address the concern.

Commissioner Green announced that Police Service Area 107 is dealing with increased rock-throwing and other crime issues, such as increased armed robberies, at its next meeting. Community members and commissioners noted that arrests in the recent spate of armed robberies – especially in PSAs 106 and 107 – have not resulted in any prosecutions.

As part of an attempt to address roots of crime, Commissioner Ostergaard asked for volunteers to work with young people in Potomac Gardens Public Housing. Anyone willing to share his/her expertise is asked to contact him.

As liaison to the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee, Commissioner Jarboe reported that Seventh Street in front of the market will temporarily close each weekend for use by artists and produce merchants who have been displaced by reconstruction. The closure will be revisited when the temporary shelter is ready – projected opening date is late July or early August. Jarboe said he abstained on the question of “restoration versus repair” raised at the recent EMCAC meeting because the ANC has not taken a position on this and expects the case to come before the ANC and HPRB soon.