Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 6A) met via Zoom on May 8. Commissioners Paul Spires (6A01, Vice-Chair), Mike Velasquez (6A02), Roberta Shapiro (6A03, treasurer), Amber Gove (6A04, Vice Chair/Parliamentarian), Dave Wethington (6A05, Chair), Jeff Giertz (6A06, Secretary) and Steven Kolb (6A07) were in attendance.
Transportation and Public Space Committee Chair Patrick Bloomstine told commissioner of rumors he had heard, that Mayor Muriel Bowser intends to unilaterally cancel large portions of the H Street Bus Priority Project.
As conceived, the project would add safety improvements, including mid-block crossings, 24/7 bus- and streetcar-only lanes between Third and 14th Street NE. It includes bus bulb-outs, curb extensions, center-line hardening, restricted left turns and 10-minute parking pick-up and drop-off zones. Existing stops would remain.
Bloomstine said he understood some parts would be built, but it was unclear which.
Commissioners lamented the potential for this decision, noting that ANCs 6A and 6C had worked on getting the project off the ground and then on planning and design for a decade.
DDOT officially began the project in Spring 2022. The design plans are currently at 90 percent. Construction was originally slated to begin this year.
The commission asked Mayor’s Office of Community Relations (MOCR) Noah Glasgow to schedule DDOT Director Kershbaum for an appearance at their June meeting.
After the meeting, the Hill Rag reached out to DDOT about the rumors. An agency spokesperson said: “The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is currently reevaluating some aspects of the project. As new information is available, DDOT will alert the public through its established channels.”
ABCA Says Renewal s ‘Protected Info’
The ANC voted to send two letters related to the difficulties ing applicants for liquor license renewal. The first, to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis istration (ABCA), asks what legal barrier is preventing ABCA from releasing the info for owners of establishments seeking to renew an alcoholic beverage or medical cannabis license to ANC Commissioners. The second, to DC Council, asks them to take action to eliminate that barrier.
ANC Alcohol Beverage Cannabis (ABC) Committee Chair Velasquez said ABCA representatives told him that privacy laws prevent the agency from sharing information for license renewals, although Velasquez noted that information is listed on placards placed on public view when an initial license application is made. The commissioner was instructed to submit a FOIA request.
Commissions often deal with dozens of renewals at a time, making such a process onerous, Velasquez said. The two letters ask that ABCA be granted authority to share information for renewal applicants with ANC Commissioners “on a need to know basis.”
Clarity on Multi-Unit RPP
The ANC voted send a letter addressed to the DC Council, the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Office of Zoning (OZ), the Bureau of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), requesting an explanation for why residents of large buildings that do not have adequate parking for residents are currently allowed to obtain a Resident Parking Permit (RPP) stickers.
The ANC understood that previously, residents of large buildings without adequate parking were not to be permitted access to RPP stickers and, also, that residents of buildings with addresses on commercial streets were not allowed RPP stickers. However, Commissioner Shapiro said she made that assumption in answering parking related questions related to the imminent delivery of large multi-unit buildings on the 1100 block of F Street and the 1000 block of H Street NE. DDOT later told her that was incorrect.
Commissioners discussed the possibility that DC Council had ed a law to that effect which had gone unfunded and so, was not in effect. The Council et. al. is asked in the letter to clarify the status of previous restrictions and reinstate them if not currently in effect.
Liquor License Protest
The ANC voted to protest the Renewal of a Class C restaurant license with entertainment endorsement at Lydia’s Restaurant and Lounge (1427 H St. NE) and asked that Commissioner Velasquez seek enforcement information from ABCA. Neighbors appeared to issue complaints about noise from the restaurant and patio, which Velasquez said was not permitted. The ANC said the goal was to sit down for a conversation and come to a renewed settlement agreement (SA) and commitment from Lydia to adhere to its .
New Committee Needed
As they discussed the successful confirmation of new resident member Nikki Del Casale to the Community Outreach (COC) Committee, commissioners asked that as many residents of the ANC as possible the various committees to ensure varied and vigorous representation on all the issues.
These include the Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Committee, Community Outreach Committee, Economic Development and Zoning Committee, Transportation and Public Space Committee. See information for the Chairs at anc6a.org/committees/.
Other Items:
Commissioner Kolb reported that a hearing on the appeal to reinstate the medical cannabis dispensary application for Proper Exotic (313 Eighth St. NE) will take place before the Alcohol Beverage Cannabis (ABC) Board on June 11. The ANC objects to the location, given its close proximity to child-serving businesses, including a daycare, tutoring service and Music on the Hill.
And in fresh grocery news: Jen Mayo from Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen’s Office noted that the Aldi at H St. NE told their office they were hoping to open June 5.
ANC 6A generally meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month, except August. The next meeting of the full commission is set for June 12. Find the full calendar and the link to by visiting anc6a.org
