Last night, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E held its monthly meeting in McCarthy Hall. Among other things, the commissioners discussed the annoying traffic on Wisconsin Ave. in Georgetown, commented on the proposed zoning regulation changes of the D.C. Office of Planning, and heard the cases of several charities, as they asked the ANC to approve street closings.

What? City driving is awful?

After officially commending Jake Sticka (COL ’13) for over 2 years of service as ANC Commissioner, the ANC brought up the severe traffic on Wisconsin Ave., which has been plaguing that area ever since construction on the street began.

Heavy traffic on such an important street has led to traffic congestion throughout Georgetown. According to ANC Chairman Ron Lewis, “The construction changes are intended to bring better, more reliable electrical services [to the area].” But the ANC commissioners noted how furious the construction work has made their constituents. Commissioner Tom Birch called the construction work a “horrible idea.”

When Police Lieutenant John Hedgecock arrived, he explained that the increased traffic has led to more traffic violations, requiring the installation of 10 cameras on the 2800 to 3300 blocks of M Street. While the cameras will not be actively monitored and will only be used after the fact, Hedgecock believes they will cut down on traffic violations as well as shoplifting on M Street.

“Hopefully, we will use these cameras to catch thieves. Perpetrators will learn we are watching,” Hedgecock said.

Georgetown sewage treatment update!

Commissioner Jeff Jones explained to the rest of the ANC that a new waste water removal system will be installed in Georgetown in the coming months, to be used specifically for the removal of Potomac River overflow.

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In Jake Sticka‘s (SFS ’13) last week as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, the ANC held its monthly meeting on the Georgetown University campus in “recognition” of the school, as announced at the last meeting. In the meeting, the Commission planned to discuss the campus plan with students on campus but instead focused on pressing issues afflicting local residents, such as “distressing” Comcast boxes, flashing neon signs, and tall tree fences.

The campus plan: No questions? Moving on
Chairman Ron Lewis said that the campus plan is now being implemented and is off to a good start. He said that the “approach to partnership” and improved relationship between the school and various neighborhood communities was important in the approval of the plan.

“We expect that to continue,” said Lewis ‘The issues are not easy, even in implementation.”

Lauralyn Lee, Associate Vice President for Community Engagement and Strategic Initiatives at Georgetown, said she is pleased at how quickly the school and neighborhood created a working relationship.

No one in the audience had questions about the campus plan.

Comcast boxes are no longer “making an aesthetic wreck”
Last month, many residents expressed concerns about small, refrigerator-sized boxes sprouting up in Georgetown’s brick sidewalks—without the ANC’s approval.

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At last night’s meeting with the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, the commissioners focused on the rerouting of the G2 bus, a plan for the “distressing” and unsightly Comcast boxes, and the move of a Wisconsin Avenue Capital Bikeshare station.

To recognize (verb): to acknowledge formally. as (a): to admit as being lord or sovereign
At the Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission’s monthly meeting this Wednesday evening, the commission agreed to discuss Georgetown’s Campus Plan on Georgetown’s campus, which will be held in the Leavey Center on Dec. 3, “in recognition of the Georgetown Community.” One commissioner joked that he would prefer to hold the meeting in Gaston Hall.

A job well done
The commissioners applauded the completion of the O and P street “rehabilitation,” which the Citizens Association of Georgetown nominated for an award for excellence in historic preservation. This construction project rerouted the G2, which ran from Georgetown’s main gates to Dupont Circle and Howard, to not go past Wisconsin during the construction. The Commission said it would not return to its normal route until mid-December. Students have expressed frustration through an online petition, demanding the G2 return to its normal schedule.

“It was an extremely job well done,” Commissioner Jeff Jones said on the O and P Street construction work.

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Yesterday evening, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E held a special meeting to consider proposed revisions to the Georgetown Campus Plan. The ANC commissioners in attendance voted unanimously, 6-0, to endorse the revised plan. Then the floor opened up to residents (to complain more about student behavior) and students (to attempt to maintain our dignity).

“The university is very encouraged – the members of the community and the students here echoed a lot of sentiments that were expressed in the negotiations and through this process,” university spokesperson Stacy Kerr said to Vox. “This isn’t a victory for one side or the other, but for everybody, and it’s a path to move forward.”

The next step entails filing the plan with the DC Zoning Commission by June 18. According to ANC Chair Ron Lewis, the Zoning Commission should have a decision by July, setting off a series of processing deadlines for both the University and ANC. But, as Lewis noted during the meeting, “If the Zoning Commission says ‘OK’, this [remainder of the process] becomes a formality.”

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Update (5:00 p.m.): Tomorrow at 2:30 p.m., on P Street and 36th Street NW, Mayor Vince Gray, President John J. DeGioia, and ANC Commissioner Ron Lewis will make a “major announcement” on the subject of campus plan negotiations, according to an email sent to campus press.

Last night, at the monthly meeting of advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, ANC Chair Ron Lewis announced a request to the Zoning Commission for a one-week extension–from June 11 to June 18–on the filing date of the Georgetown University Campus Plan. By June 18, assuming the groups reach a final agreement, the University, ANC 2E, Citizen’s Association of Georgetown and Burleith Citizen’s Association will conduct a joint filing of the plan. The letter, addressed to the Anthony Hood, Zoning Commission Chair, predicts the real final decision by July 16.

Mayor Vincent Gray left us with high hopes last Wednesday (“We are 95% to getting this solved”) for an official agreement by today’s meeting, but in all fairness, the extension is necessary to gain a recommendation from the Zoning Commission for the joint filing.

University spokesperson Stacy Kerr commented on the meeting’s proceedings in an email to Vox:

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Last night at the monthly meeting of advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, we had an important announcement about the campus plan, and a few other  visits from the university. Before we get into the recap, here’s a PSA in case local government is your thing.

Sticka wants YOU to join the ANC

Tomorrow night at 8 p.m. in the Reiss 281, the current on-campus ANC commissioner Jake Sticka (COL ’13) is holding an info session for prospective candidates. ANC commissioners serve two-year terms, and since the redistricting process of last fall, campus now has two seats (one representing SW Quad, VCW, and New South, the other representing Henle, Harbin, Copley, some townhouses, and Nevils. Unfortunately, Darnall, LXR, and Magis Row have been gerrymandered into other districts.)

Although the town-gown issues get all the attention, most of what the ANC does focuses on local businesses, public space, and transportation.

Sticka says you should run because, ”People should want their representational forms of  government to represent them.”

Speaking of the University (but when are we not, honestly)…

Speaking of the university, a few special guests dropped by to say “hello,” “how are you,” and “could you approve this athletic center?” First up, GUSA president Clara Gustafson (SFS ’12) introduced herself to the community.

“I just wanted to come hear tonight to say that Georgetown University and the community have in the past not always had the best relationship,” she said, “But I want you all to know that I am very committed to help improve that in any way I can.”

Later, VP for External Relations Linda Greenan presented the revised plans for the Athletic Center to the ANC for approval. The Athletic Center was already approved for use by the Zoning Commission, and, according to ANC Commissioner Ron Lewis, is is ANC policy to approve the specifics one the zoning commission has spoken on a project.

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I don’t know if it was the broken heating system or the tension, but everyone was sweating at last night’s meeting of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, but it served as a reminder that NIMBY-ism is a dish best served lukewarm.

Safety Dance

A representative from MPD came to give the police report to the ANC. Besides the recent robberies and sexual assault, MPD also received calls about a peeping tom and an individual engaging in hotel fraud. A man who uses the name “Antonio Williams” has been checking into hotels around the city using false credit card information, and, when the cards are rejected, he calls a friend to impersonate a bank to convince the hotels to accept his cards over the phone.

Also at the meeting, one resident brought up the accuracy of Rocky’s Reports. According to the resident, Rocky’s Reports significantly underplay the number of 911 calls in the area. She said she logged every call she makes to MPD, and Rocky reports that there were less overall calls than she made. She wanted to know where exactly Rocky gets his information and called the reports, “a gross misrepresentation of what’s going on.”

According to Commissioner Ron Lewis, Rocky gets his information from casual conversations at the second distrct headquarters, which is different from the communications headquarters who normally handle these things.

“They’re completely PR efforts,” Lewis said, shrugging.

Keep on truckin’

This month, the ANC came back to whether and how they want food trucks in Georgetown since the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs is in the process of changing the rules to allow them to park in any legal parking space. Last month, the ANC created a draft resolution that would allow food trucks to park in Georgetown, but not on residential streets.

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Last night’s meeting of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E saw a series of guest stars from DCRA, Pepco, MPD, and DC Fire Dept. And that’s in addition to all the normal nonsense and obligatory campus plan pooh-poohing the ANC partakes in on a monthly basis. So let’s just go over the interesting parts.

Raze the roof

Two representatives of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs came to last night’s meeting to address the partial building collapse last November. The DCRA duty officer that night, Bill Davidson, explained the situation: after the scene had been cleared of hazards, he inspected the property and structural damage. He permitted the owner to clean up the debris but required the owner to file for a construction permit to rebuild.

As to the cause of the initial collapse, Davidson reported, “The owner has to hire a structural engineer to make the determination,” which he has not done yet. So the cause of the collapse–and whether the property owner was violating any laws–is unknown.

A few of the commissioners, including Bill Starrels and Tom Birch, were incredulous that the property owner was responsible for determining the cause of the collapse. Starrels cited that, years ago, when the property was a shoe store, the owner was notorious for property neglect.

“I worry about a cover-up,” said Birch. “I still reserve skepticism.”

Additionally, the owner of a neighboring property complained that the owner of the collapsed building had bricked up one of his windows during the clean-up. As it stands, the owner of the collapsed building isn’t allows to rebuild until the DCRA grants him a permit to do so.

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Last night’s marathon Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting covered everything from crime to tree boxes. As always, we’ve picked out the meeting’s highlights just for you. Let’s get to the recap.

The name is Bond. Revenue Bond.

Linda Greenan, associate vice president for external relations, presented the University’s application for tax-exempt revenue bonds incited an onslaught of heated reactions from audience members. A proposed $60 million of the bonds, a majority, will go toward funding the new science center. The rest will cover the cost of maintaining on-campus residences, including $12 million to outfit all residential halls with wireless Internet access.

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