Greetings All,
Please attend this important ANC meeting that will decide the fate of the corner of 1st & Kennedy Street.
The meeting will take place Monday, April 29, 2024 @ 7:00pm
Zoom link for the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81112727502?pwd=T1QycGMwcWhhQW5lRU4wTGUvY1Frdz09
Prior to the meeting, we urge you to contact your 4b commissioners and plead with them to vote against any resolution that supports a waiver that removes requirements for a courtyard and lot line setbacks. We want to buildings for our neighborhood that people want to live in. The minimum requirements are essential and we can do better than providing housing without any community space, undersized courtyards, and dark alleys due to lot line encroachments.
The ANC 4B will vote will determine the future of this critical corner of Kennedy Street.
Please reach out to the ANC! Send them this statements, or contact them and voice your concerns however is possible. Now is the time action by all is needed!
ANC first name last name
Address
Dear XXXX,
We are concerned about the proposed project at 71 Kennedy Street NW. Specifically, we oppose the open courtyard waiver and the rear yard waiver for the following reasons.
The previous waiver to allow a closed courtyard was acceptable as the proposed 4000 sq/ft retail space could be considered community space. The current proposal would have a 74.6% lot occupancy with solely residences with no room for community spaces.
Closed courtyards can impact the overall urban fabric and pedestrian experience of a neighborhood. Large open courtyards promote a more connected streetscape, enhancing walkability and community interaction. Providing green spaces, natural light, and visual breaks in built-up areas also increases safety and quality of life.
Denying the waiver that would allow a closed courtyard ensures that residents have adequate access to these amenities, promoting a higher quality of life. We urge the Chairman & this board to deny the waiver.
Likewise, the proposed waiver for rear yard requirements would have significant adverse impacts on neighboring properties. Loss of privacy, overshadowing, and diminished property values all will result from allowing this waiver. The developer has failed to provide sufficient justification for the rear yard relief request. Without a compelling rationale for the deviation from zoning requirements, there is no basis for granting the requested relief. Allowing exceptions to established regulations without valid justification erodes public trust in the planning process and opens the door to arbitrary and capricious decision making. Upholding the established zoning requirements serves to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community and should take precedence over the interests of individual developers.
We respectfully urge this board to deny the open courtyard relief and rear yard relief requests of RE1. Doing so is essential to uphold the rule of law, protect the rights of neighboring property owners, and safeguard the long-term interests of the community.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Some Concerned Citizens of Ward 4B
This URL contains the ANC contact information.
https://anc.dc.gov/page/advisory-neighborhood-commission-4b
It is as simple as sending them a text or as comprehensive as submitting the entire letter. Please take action! Tomorrow they vote!
ANC contacts below:
4B01
T. Michelle Colson
Washington, DC 20012
240-604-3912
4B01@anc.dc.gov
4B02
Erin Palmer
Secretary
715 Van Buren Street NW
Washington, DC 20012
202-821-6333
4B02@anc.dc.gov
4B03
Zurick T. Smith
Vice Chair
526 Tuckerman Street NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-539-6869
4B03@anc.dc.gov
4B04
Evan Yeats
Treasurer
343 Cedar Street NW
Washington, DC 20011
319-310-5716
4B04@anc.dc.gov
4B05
Kevin Gilligan
Washington, DC 20011
202-713-5401
4B05@anc.dc.gov
4B06
Tiffani Nichole Johnson
5806 3rd Place NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-271-3710
4B06@anc.dc.gov
4B07
Michael Cohen
248 Quackenbos Street NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-656-0452
4B07@anc.dc.gov
4B08
Alison Brooks
Chairperson
5601 1st Street NE
Washington, DC 20011
240-423-0826
4B08@anc.dc.gov
4B09
Derrick Thompson
5661 3rd Street NE
Washington, DC 20011
202-571-3010
4B09@anc.dc.gov
4B10
Jinin Berry
107 Sheridan Street NE
Washington, DC 20011
202-525-7033
4B10@anc.dc.gov