ANC Approves Evermay Plan, Offers Updates on O&P Project and PEPCO Work

During a meeting packed with special guests, ranging from D.C. Fire and EMS Chief Kenneth Ellerbe to D.C. Department of Regulatory and Consumer Affairs Director Nicholas Majett, the Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission also considered its standard range of topics from construction updates to zoning requests.

Check back later today for articles on the status of 1424 Wisconsin Ave. and a post about the ANC's stance on foodtrucks in Georgetown.

EVERMAY

Commissioners unanimously approved the . The S&R Foundation proposed numerous conditions to assuage the concerns of neighbors about noise or traffic impacting their otherwise quiet streets. The ANC did, however, suggest that the Board of Zoning Adjustment consider granting only a five year exception, rather than the requested seven years.

Commissioner Tom Birch assured neighbors and the project attorney's that the five-year request was not a sign of "distrust." Rather, he explained, "it is not unprecedented in our community to go forward in phases. In this case, we are approving a program with which we have no experience."

PEPCO

Representatives from the PEPCO assured the ANC and neighbors in attendance that the plan is to "increase reliability in the next year" in Burleith and Hillandale.

PEPCO performed a load study to determine the power demands of Hillandale and has already begun work to install newer, properly-sized cables. That part of the project should wrap-up by June in time for summer's high-usage months.

A short-term fix will also go in place to reduce the load during the summer on feeder 15-943 that serves Burleith. According to the utility company, each feeder serves approximately 1,100 homes as a power hub off of a line running from a nearby power substation. Hillandale will be moved to another feeder temporarily during the summer to free up room for higher summer demand in Burleith.

In the fall, Burleith will also be moved off of feeder 15-943 to allow for upgrades. Later in the fall both Burleith and Hillandale will be put back onto the larger and improved 15-943 feeder, which runs from the VanNess Substation. PEPCO assured commissioners that these moves will improve service and reduce outages.

CAMPUS PLAN UPDATE

"We have all filed our last filings, we hope," said Commissioner Ron Lewis. The Zoning Commission is scheduled for a hearing to discuss the plan Thursday, Feb. 9. 

Lewis said the disruptions and negative impacts imposed by students living in the wider community continue, relatively unabated. He also said that the weekly Rocky’s Report, "emphasizing how great everything is," was little more than another ploy out of the university's PR department. "It is being taken by the community with a grain of salt," he added.

"I think we are all very eager to have the Zoning Commission make a decision," Lewis concluded.

O&P STREET

This large constrution project continues to chug along.

According to Commissioner Jeff Jones, contractors secured "minor additional funding" to "repair" the . No delays are anticipated.  

Jones also noted that 34 trees will be planted in the project area and 45 tree fences will be installed to replace some that are non-conforming and to serve as new additions to other tree boxes.