Monthly Archives: January 2023

McDonald’s Rezoning Request for Drive-thru Gets Final Approval by DC Zoning Commission

Posted by nextstoprp in North Michigan PArk

At its public meeting on January 26, 2023, the DC Zoning Commission took final action, voting (3-1-1) to approve a map amendment request for the McDonald’s property at 4950 South Dakota Avenue NE to change the zone district from MU-3A to MU-7B (Zoning Commission case no. 22-19, recording at approximately 1:24:50 mark). The new zoning district permits a drive-thru as a matter of right, which is the reason McDonald’s pursued this rezoning. Zoning Commission Chair Anthony Hood, Vice Chair Robert Miller, and Commissioner Joseph Imamura voted in support. Commissioner Peter May opposed. One seat is vacant.

The zoning commissioners rested on the points they made at the initial vote, described in this post. Recall DC’s Office of Planning supported the rezoning request, while the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) objected to the request. In order to actually build a drive-thru, McDonald’s will have to go through DDOT’s public space permit process.

Brookland Metrorail Station Closed January 28 & 29: Shuttle Buses between Fort Totten & Rhode Island Avenue Metrorail Stations

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

From Metro:

Red Line Red Line

  • Trains every 10 minutes operating in two segments: Shady Grove to Rhode Island Ave; and Fort Totten to Glenmont.  

Scheduled Maintenance

Due to fiber-optic cable installation for radio and signal systems, service will be shut down between Rhode Island Ave and Fort Totten: 

  • Trains will operate in two segments: between Fort Totten and Glenmont; and Rhode Island Ave and Shady Grove. 
  • Brookland Station closed.
  • Free shuttle buses available between Fort Totten, Brookland and Rhode Island Ave. 

Reminder: Complete Ward 5 Needs (Budget) Survey Soon

Posted by nextstoprp in Ward 5

Performance oversight and budget season is upon us. In preparation for DC Council performance and budget oversight hearings, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker office is asking residents to identify Ward 5 needs.

Complete the Ward 5 Needs Survey at ward5.us/oversightform.

The survey lists four areas (schools & rec; street safety & transportation; pollution, trash, & environmental justice; & violence reduction & community safety), but residents can also list other areas of concern.

CM Parker’s office is also accepting feedback in other ways. Copied from the survey:

We welcome emails and letters from residents, civic associations, parent-teacher associations, and advisory neighborhood commissioners highlighting concerns in more detail. Please send those materials to Conor Shaw (cshaw@dccouncil.gov) by February 3, 2023. If you’d prefer to relay your concerns via phone, please contact us at 202 724 8028.

This is the time to identify issues you would like Councilmember Parker to be aware of for oversight purposes and to advocate for budget items. I know neighbors have asked for support and funding for a number of things over the years that still need attention and funding, with a couple of more recent asks.

  • Attractive green space at the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE. This is consistent with approved neighborhood area development plan.
  • Shade for the Riggs-LaSalle Rec playground.
  • Support/funding for neighborhood park/area recommendations in draft Ready2Play plan.
  • New Riggs Park-area pool.
  • Better coordination with National Park Service (NPS) to get things that neighbors would like to see at Fort Circle Park. This is consistent with approved neighborhood area development plan.
  • Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten to Avondale segment. This is consistent with approved National Capital Trail Network
  • South Dakota Avenue NE Multimodal Safety and Access Study along the lines of the Bladensburg Rd. Multimodal Safety and Access Study that was funded in FY 2023. Longstanding issues at key intersections at Galloway Street, Hamilton Street, Ingraham Street, & Riggs Road in Riggs Park, but also points further south.
  • Taylor Street/Rock Creek Church Road bike lanes
  • Riggs Road NE cycletrack and trailhead
  • For Bertie Backus campus plan, ensuring that any plans/changes have a positive impact on the local neighborhood in addition to advancing institutional goals.
  • For Metro’s Joint Development program, ensuring that any further redevelopment of Fort Totten Metro station, as anticipated in Metro’s 10-year strategic plan, has a positive impact on the local neighborhood in addition to advancing Metro’s institutional goals.

Being as specific as possible, explaining how neighbors have advocated for items over a number of years, and providing cost estimates & number of people impacted to the extent possible, is always helpful. Connecting requests to approved plans, study recommendations, and initiatives, such as the Riggs Road/South Dakota Avenue NE Area Development Plan, moveDC, Vision Zero, and DDOT livability studies, is also helpful to provide justification for the request or context for the issue.

Even if you do not have a lot of time to spend on the survey, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with Councilmember Parker.

Upcoming DC Council Agency Performance Oversight Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

DC Council oversight hearings for District government agencies begin this week. Find the full draft schedule at https://dccouncil.gov/2022-2023-performance-oversight-fy-2024-budget-schedules.

Have issues with how an agency is performing? Have ideas about how to make things better?

Is there something that multiple neighbors are experiencing with an agency that remains unresolved despite multiple attempts at resolution?

Is there an agency doing something well that might be a useful idea for another agency?

Are there things that an agency is doing well but you just wish they were doing more of whatever that thing is?

Let the Council know.

Individual committee instructions on how to participate either by testifying orally or by submitting written comments are available at https://dccouncil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DRAFT-Instructions-for-Public-Participation-PERFORMANCE-OVERSIGHT-01132023.pdf. (Note, this list is currently incomplete).

Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George chairs the Council’s Facilities & Family Services Committee. This is the committee that oversees DC’s Department of General Services (DGS), among other agencies. DGS is responsible for maintaining District-owned buildings and District-managed space. This includes traditional public schools and recreation centers. Instructions on how to sign up to testify for that committee are available at https://janeeseward4.com/testify.

Reminder: Submit Comments on DC Parks & Rec Master Plan by January 31

Posted by nextstoprp in Recreation

Be sure to comment on the District’s draft parks and recreation long-range plan by January 31, 2023. Visit ready2playdc.com to read the draft plan and submit your comments.

From DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR):

The plan includes goals, strategies, actions, and an investment blueprint to guide DPR over the next two decades. There are policy-level planning, programming, design, and operations actions that DPR intends to undertake and track over the coming years, as well as specific site-based recommendations and an implementation plan of investment.

The draft plan is currently posted on the Ready2Play website, where you can submit comments directly in the document by clicking on the relevant area of the page and filling in the comment window that pops up. Additionally, there is a public comment survey where you can leave additional feedback or general comments on the whole document.

I previously discussed some elements of the draft plan in this post.

This is the time to support the items in the draft plan that you like and to continue to advocate for funding and implementation of the things neighbors want.

Want to see attractive community green space at the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE? Ask for it and remind officials that this request is consistent with the neighborhood’s area development plan.

Want shade at the new Riggs-LaSalle Rec playground? Ask for it.

Want a neighborhood walking track and tennis courts? Co-sign the recommendation in the plan.

Want better coordination with National Park Service for Fort Circle Park? Co-sign the recommendation in the plan & remind officials that the neighborhood’s approved area development plan contemplates recreation and a trail around the perimeter of the park.

Want “safe access” to include not just safe routes to the rec, but also safety in and around the rec? Let officials know.

Whatever it is that you support, let DPR know by January 31.

January 25: ANC 5A Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A Meeting
Wednesday, January 25, 2022 at 6:45 pm
ANC 5A’s meeting will be held online only in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81870709297?pwd=WDRMMGpvaVVGSGc5amNSU003UDE0QT09

Meeting ID: 818 7070 9297
Passcode: 847136

Dial In: 301 715 8592

All residents will be muted. Individuals will be called on once acknowledged by the Chair.

AGENDA ITEMS 

      I. Call Meeting to Order 6:45 pm

    II. Quorum  

  III. Office Vacancy Declaration

  IV. Election & Swearing in of Officers Honorable Councilmember Zachary Parker

  III. Agenda Review/Acceptance  

  IV. Commission Business

A.    New Commissioner Orientation

B.    Budget & ANC Security Fund

C.    Minutes for Approval (December Special Meeting 2022) *

D.    Ward 5 Website Update – Domain

E.    Annual Calendar

F.     ANC 2nd Office Space

    V. Community Updates

A.    MPD  

B.    Mayor’s Office

C.    Councilmember Parker’s office  

  VI. Reports & Presentations

VII. Community Comment Period 

VIII. Next Meeting: February 22, 2023  

  IX. Adjourn

Duvalier Malone, SMD 5A01
Karlus Cozart, SMD 5A02
Emily Singer Lucio,  SMD 5A03
Diego Rojas SMD 5A04
Vacant, SMD 5A05
Kweku Toure, SMD 5A06
Vacant, SMD 5A07
Gordon-Andrew Fletcher, SMD 5A08
Zachary Ammerman, SMD 5A09

ANC 5A Commissioners 2023-2024

January 21:Fort Circle Park Cleanup with ANC 5A09 Commissioner Zachary Ammerman

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A, Fort Circle Park

Fort Circle Park Cleanup with ANC Commissioner Zachary Ammerman (5A09)
January 21, 2023
10:00 am-12:00 noon

Meet at the Galloway Street side of the Gallatin-Galloway pedestrian trail. Gloves, trash bags, and a limited number of trash grabbers provided.

Stay for five minutes or two hours, up to you. This is also a chance to meet Commissioner Ammerman, say hello, and discuss neighborhood issues.

This event and other news are in Commissioner Ammerman’s newsletter. Sign up to receive Commissioner Ammerman’s ANC 5A09 updates at ANC5A09.com.

Complete DDOT Survey on Truck/Bus Routes & Signage by January 31

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

ANC Commissioner Duvalier Malone (5A01) asked to share DDOT’s survey on truck/bus routes and signage. Message from DDOT with survey link below.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is conducting a Positive Truck/Bus Signage Study to understand the benefits and costs of installing new signage in support of a potential mandatory truck/bus route system, and develop recommendations for next steps. 

As part of this study, DDOT would like to hear from you and your constituents! Please open the linked survey below to let us know what you think of the District’s truck and bus routes and signage. 

Your input will inform the study’s recommendations and next steps, which will be developed by the end of the year. Please help spread the word by sharing with your constituents!

Please respond to this survey by Tuesday, January 31, 2023:  https://forms.office.com/g/rDU6D1eQum

January 22: Ward 4 CM Lewis George Listening Session for Lamond-Riggs

Posted by nextstoprp in Ward 4

Ward 4 CM Janeese Lewis George Listening Session for Lamond-Riggs
January 22, 2023
3:00 pm-5:00 pm
Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ
5301 North Capitol Street NE

Register at janeeseward4.com/listen or call (202) 724-8052.

Help inform CM Lewis George’s legislation, budget priorities, constituent services, and community initiatives. These listening tour sessions have been useful in the past, so please attend a session if you can. There is space on the registration form to enter questions/comments in advance of the session.

A virtual session will also be held on February 2 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (bit.ly/ward4-listen) for those who cannot or do not wish to attend an in-person session.

January 23: ANC 4B Public Meeting (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, January 23, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting Details:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83287696066?pwd=RWpZaEkvK01hQXY1N3NHeVJpWkVBdz09.

Meeting ID: 832 8769 6066. Passcode: 262224.

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592.

Meeting ID: 832 8769 6066. Passcode: 262224.

Agenda

  1. Call to Order & Roll Call
  2. Administrative Items:
    • Instructions re Participation in Virtual Meeting
    • Election of Officers
    • Appointment of Representative to Walter Reed CAC
    • Consideration and Approval of January Agenda
    • Approval of November 2022 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
    • Approval of 2023 Meeting Schedule
    • Approval of ANC Security Fund
    • Treasurer’s Report and Quarterly Financial Report for First Quarter FY2023
  3. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)
  4. Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.
  5. Reports:
    • Sophia Tekola, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
    • Jim Lewis, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 minutes)
    • Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative (3 minutes)
    • Housing Justice Committee (2 minutes)
    • Vision Zero Committee (2 minutes)
    • Community Safety & Support Committee (2 minutes)
  6. Presentation: Stephen Akyereko, Outreach Coordinator, DC Water, Lead Free DC (10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)
  7. Consent Calendar:
    • Resolution 4B-23-0101: Calling for Greater Transparency and Action to Address Sidewalk Repairs, Sidewalk Gaps, and Pedestrian Infrastructure (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Brooks & Commissioner Johnson)
    • Resolution 4B-23-0102: Highlighting History of Advocacy for and Requesting Stronger Centralized Resources for Successful Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Gilligan, Commissioner Walker& Commissioner Yeats)
    • Letter: Supporting and Providing Additional Feedback on Application of TM Associates, LLC, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for Consolidated Approval of Planned Unit Development and Map Amendment at Takoma Metrorail Station (ZC Case #22-36) (Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Palmer & Commissioner Brooks)
    • Resolution 4B-23-0103: Expanding Membership of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Housing Justice Committee (Commissioner Palmer)
    • Resolution 4B-23-0104: Calling on the Executive to Fully Implement the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act of 2016 (Commissioner Johnson & Commissioner Gilligan)
  8. Adjournment

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, February 27, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

agenda-23jan2023-to-notice-v.2Download

Changes to DDOT Process for Traffic Safety Issues

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) rolled out a new “Traffic Safety Input (TSI)” process for handling what were previously known as traffic safety investigation requests. (DDOT informed ANC commisssioners of this change in December 2022).

View the Traffic Safety Input Frequently Asked Questions page and TSI flyer for more information.

Use Traffic Safety Input requests in 311 to identify:

  • Safety concerns for pedestrians, people biking, or taking transit.
  • Unmarked or marked crosswalks that appear unsafe (Maintenance for existing markings should be put in under the  311 request , Roadway Striping / Markings).
  • Traffic safety issues around schools.
  • Concerns about speeding drivers or speed limits in general (Note: DDOT’s policy on speed limits is 20 MPH for local roads and may vary for Arterial and Collector roadways).

Do Not use Traffic Safety Input requests in 311 for:

  • EMERGENCIES: Dial 9-1-1 for immediate fire, police, or medical response.
  • URGENT MAINTENANCE: Call 311 for immediate response to matters requiring urgent maintenance.
  • MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE: Use the 311 maintenance request type for issues related to existing Roadway Signs, Traffic Signal Issues, Sidewalk Repair, Roadway Markings, Tree Pruning, or Roadway Repair (including speed hump repair requests).

DDOT will prioritize around 200 traffic safety input requests each quarter for further investigation.

According to DDOT’s website:

Residents should not request maintenance of existing assets through the Traffic Safety Input program; instead, please use the appropriate 311 categories (e.g. Roadway Signs, Roadway Striping/Markings, Sidewalk Repair, Traffic Signal Issue). Maintenance requests submitted as Traffic Safety Inputs will not be addressed.

A Traffic Safety Input can be submitted via 311 by a resident, ANC, or other community member or organization and will be prioritized based on objective factors such as roadway characteristics, crash patterns, equity, proximity to Vision Zero High Injury Network corridors, and locations utilized by vulnerable road users such as schools, Metro rails stations, and bus stops. Based on these factors, DDOT’s Traffic Safety Branch will develop a work plan for 800 prioritized locations per year (200 each quarter) to evaluate the safety concerns expressed and determine if any action is needed. All TSI submissions that are not included in the quarterly work plan will remain in the system for prioritization in following quarters.

Once a request is selected for prioritization, DDOT can take up to 130 days for further action. From DDOT’s website:

TSI evaluation and production of the corresponding engineering design (work order) for prioritized TSIs takes approximately 130 business days to complete following prioritization. DDOT’s findings for each prioritized TSI will be posted on the TSI Dashboard. If a safety treatment is necessary, DDOT will provide the details of the proposed improvements. If no changes are recommended, we will provide an explanation for our decision. 

  • Upon evaluation, if the proposed recommendations change existing traffic control and/or on-street parking, a Notice of Intent (NOI) will be issued by DDOT, which includes a 30 business-day public comment period. 
  • The timeline for installation of improvements varies based on the safety treatment identified. 
  • For most treatments that do not require an NOI, installation typically occurs in the next calendar quarter after the TSI is completed; for example, a TSI evaluation that is completed in Quarter 1 will be implemented in Quarter 2. 

Residents can visit  https://arcg.is/Dqe8T for updates on work order installation.

For more information about vertical traffic calming infrastructure (e.g., speed humps, speed tables, raised crosswalks), including criteria used by DDOT to evaluate implementation on roadways within the District, as well as design specifications for these devices, please refer to  DDOT Vertical Traffic Calming Guidelines.

On the TSI dashboard, you can filter by ANC/SMD to see the requests that are being priortized for first quarter 2023. Looks like fewer than 10 requests were prioritized for the Lamond-Riggs area for the first quarter. Without knowing how many were submitted in the first place or what the nonprioritized requests were for, hard to say much else about DDOT’s prioritization for this area.

The next set of prioritizations will be posted in April 2023.

Ward 5 CM Zachary Parker Newsletter Links of Interest – Ward 5 Needs Survey, Office Hours, & Point of Contact

Posted by nextstoprp in Ward 5

Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker’s recent newsletter contains a lot of information. Subscribe to his newsletter at ward5.us/newsletter.

A couple of links highlighted below.

In preparation for upcoming DC Council performance and budget oversight hearings, CM Parker’s office is asking residents to identify Ward 5 needs.

The survey lists four areas (schools & rec; street safety & transportation; pollution, trash, & environmental justice; & violence reduction & community safety), but residents can also list other areas of concern.

His office is also accepting feedback in other ways. Copied from the survey:

We welcome emails and letters from residents, civic associations, parent-teacher associations, and advisory neighborhood commissioners highlighting concerns in more detail. Please send those materials to Conor Shaw (cshaw@dccouncil.gov) by February 3, 2023. If you’d prefer to relay your concerns via phone, please contact us at 202 724 8028.

CM Parker will hold community office hours on Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at Zeke’s Coffee located at 2300 Rhode Island Avenue NE. Be sure to sign up to reserve your spot.

  • Point of Contact

Carlos McKnight, Constituent Services Coordinator, will be CM Parker’s main point of contact for residents in ANC 5A. He can be reached at cmcknight@dccouncil.gov.  

Be sure to check out the full newsletter for information about other programs and legislative activities.

January 10: Follow Up Riggs Park Public Safety Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in Public Safety, Recreation

Riggs Park Follow Up Public Safety Meeting
Hosted by DC’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety & Justice
January 10, 2023
6:30 pm
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE)

Government agencies in attendance:

Metropolitan Police Department
DC Department of General Services
DC Department of Parks & Recreation
DC Department of Behavioral Health

For questions or concerns, please contact Jasmin Benab at jasmin.benab@dc.gov.

—

This meeting is a follow-up to a less than useful meeting that was held on January 3, 2023, in response to the shooting that happend at the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center on December 23, 2022. MPD 4th District Commander Carlos Heraud attended the meeting but a minute before having to leave because of a shooting at Georgia Avenue & Rittenhouse Street NW. Officials from other agencies present were not prepared to address questions raised by residents.

For the meeting on January 10, residents are encouraged to submit questions, concerns, and ideas in advance to jasmin.benab@dc.gov.

My understanding is that representatives will be prepared with responses to questions raised at the meeting on January 3. It sounds like this will be a real opportunity for residents to say what they would like to see from District government officials and what kind of resources residents believe are necessary to make sure something like this does not happen again.

The frontline staff at the rec deserve all the thanks and support for keeping the children who were in the gym at the time safe. They also deserve a workplace free from violence, a building with working security cameras, and an executive branch that timely responds to issues raised by the staff.

Also, nothing can be that deep to make someone decide to shoot up a rec center. So often people say that there are not enough programs or things for young people to do in this city and then people decide to shoot up a place that actually offers programs and things for young people to do. This is ridiculous.

New ANC 5A09 Commissioner Online Office Hours

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

From ANC Commissioner Zachary Ammerman (5A09)

Map of ANC 5A09 boundaries from DC Board of Elections

New ANC 5A09 Commissioner Zachary Ammerman is now hosting twice weekly online office hours. Sign up for a 30-minute video chat with him on any topic up to two weeks in advance. Online office hours will be every Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 7 pm. Feel free to also reach out to him at 5a09@anc.dc.gov (the fastest way to get in touch) or by text or phone call at 202.695.2213.

Sign up for a 30-minute video chat here.

5A09 is a brand-new district that was created out of redistricting. Roughly, it is bounded to the east by South Dakota Ave NE and the Red Line on the west and includes the Modern at Art Place and Aventine apartment complexes, the Food and Friends property, Rocketship Infinity Public Charter School, and a few blocks of duplexes of North Michigan Park north of Emerson Street NE.

Find your ANC/SMD.

Nominating Petitions for Vacant ANC 5A05 & 5A07 Seats Available January 9, 2023

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A
Picture of notice of ANC/SMD vacancy from DC Board of Elections website. In the DC Register, January 6, 2023.

The DC Board of Elections has certified vacancies for ANC single member districts 5A05 and 5A07. Nominating petitions will be available on January 9, 2023. The deadline to file petitions is January 30, 2023 at 4:45 pm. Instructions are in the notice of vacancy.

More information is available on the DC Board of Elections website at https://dcboe.org/Candidates/ANC-Commissioners and in the DC Board of Elections Filling ANC Vacancies Overview Document.

Maps of ANC 5A05 and 5A07 are below. You can find your ANC/SMD on the ANC/SMD locator. If you know someone in these areas who might have an interest in serving, please pass along this information.

Map of ANC 5A05 from DC Board of Elections
Map of ANC 5A07 from DC Board of Elections