As I described in more detail back in September, an application to open a new cannabis retailer shop at 1658 33rd St. appeared to be based on a flawed measurement that purported to show that the proposed location was more than 400 feet away from another existing store. As the law prohibits stores from being opened with 400 feet from another store, this was key to allowing the permit application to proceed.
This measurement was suspicious for several reasons. The first was that a simple measurement by Google Maps or a more exact measurement using the city’s own geographic software indicated that the two locations were about 370 feet apart. The other reason the applicant’s measurement was suspicious was that it was performed by someone who does not appear to be a licensed surveyor in DC.
To put the question fully to bed, the ANC hired its own actually licensed surveyor to conduct a legal field measurement. And the answer came back last week: the two properties are 376.4 feet apart, just like we said they were.
I’ve submitted the report to the ABC Board and requested that the placard be revoked (again). But if they insist on us presenting the evidence at the protest hearing in January, we’ll do that instead. In any event, we have stood up for the law being enforced as written and we expect the board to rule in our favor.
