Tag Archives: ANC

The Great Georgetown Bugaboo: Cars and Parking

At Monday’s ANC meeting there was a near constant theme that weaves itself through just about every ANC2E meeting: cars and parking. It is the received wisdom that parking is a scarce commodity in Georgetown that needs to be defended against all threats of a cut in supply or an increase in demand.

For instance, on Monday night a resident came applying for permission to construct a basement exit to her house. The conversation soon turned to how many square feet the butler’s pantry was in the basement. What does that have to do with a basement exit you ask? A basement with a kitchen and an exit could be turned into a completely separate basement apartment. And in the minds of Commissioners, and many residents, another apartment means another car and another car means one fewer parking spot.

This is how the great Georgetown bugaboo, cars and parking, guides many of the decisions of our elected officials.

But are they basing their decisions on a fair picture of the neighborhood or are they letting their own flawed perceptions and the voices of a loud minority guide them?

GM dug into the numbers and found that the true picture of cars in Georgetown is complicated. The problem is felt by fewer than you’d think and the bulk of the problem may come from the choices of surprisingly few. Find out why after the jump.

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ANC Roundup: Marathon Edition

As “prequeled” yesterday, GM attended a brutal marathon-like ANC meeting Monday night. After a long warm-down run and a good night’s sleep, GM is now ready to give an account of the race.

Along the way, we’ll pass sewage pipes, cupcakes, and yet another rejected curb cut. Make sure to carbo load and stretch and GM will see you at the starting line after the jump: Continue reading

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Septembember ANC Preview

Photo by Flickr user DBKing used under Creative Commons
Photo by Flickr user DBKing used under Creative Commons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping the theme of holding ANC meetings in the wrong month, tonight August 31st ANC2E will hold its September meeting. It’s been two months since the last meeting, so you can be sure it won’t be an in-and-out affair. But what’s on the agenda? Find out after the jump: Continue reading

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ANC Roundup: Moratoriums get Moratoriumier

So soon did lose his seat and all at once – King Henry V, Act I, Scene 1

Seats are wonderful things. They allow us to stop standing, at least for a little while. They also allow us to eat sitting down. And drink. And drive cars to restaurants in order to eat or drink sitting down. And in Georgetown, anything that might attract more people in cars to anything is immediately viewed with suspicion. So it is from that observation that GM turns to the great Seat Moratorium War of 2009. Skirmish One of this war took place last night at the ANC meeting, and it was just one of the highlights of the last ANC meeting till September. Continue reading

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The Morning Metropolitan

Good morning Georgetown. Here’s the soaked latest:

Photo of Friday’s deluge by Flickr user alykat used under a Creative Commons license.

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Old Georgetown Board Approves Parking Pad Over ANC and Neighbor Objection

As GM discussed recently, the owners of 3020 Cambridge Place came before the ANC and the Old Georgetown Board twice recently to request the installation of a parking pad on their property adjoining the alley behind their house.

In May, the owners (who apparently don’t actually live there) requested approval to construct the parking pad. The ANC, perhaps in deference to the strong showing from neighbors objecting to the construction, decided not to approve the designs. According to the architect’s testimony at the June ANC meeting, the OGB also rejected the proposal but left the door open. Continue reading

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ANC Round Up: The Fast Show

7:57 PM.

That was the adjournment time of tonight’s ANC meeting. Assuming the meeting kicked off at 6:30 (GM was a few minutes late), the meeting was a mere hour and a half. That must be some sort of a record. Let’s go to the video tape:

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Reminder – ANC Meeting Tonight

The June ANC meeting will be held tonight at 6:30 at Visitation. GM did a run-down a few days ago, but there’ s one update: there will be no gay marriage resolution. GM’s still trying to track down the details, but it seems that the resolution was delayed to better coordinate with a citywide push to encourage the Council to recognize gay marriage. As soon as GM gets more details he’ll share them with you.

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June ANC Preview – The Gay Marriage Edition

The June ANC meeting will be held next Monday June 1st, in the normal Heritage Room of Visitation. The agenda has been released and one item stands out like a sore thumb. Of all the issues you’d expect to see on an ANC meeting agenda, GM is pretty sure that Gay Marriage is pretty low on people’s list. But no matter, the ANC has apparently set out to pass some sort of a resolution.

But on what side?

GM is assuming, or at least sincerely hopes, that they are for the legalization of gay marriage. Or maybe they’ll be for it as long as it doesn’t affect parking. Although either way it seems awfully futile for the ANC to weigh in on this issue. But if they want to pitch in to the cause, GM says bully to them. It should create a fun debate either way.

So what else? Apparently Georgetown Billiards closed (which is sad news to GM; it was a nice off-beat place to hang out). The new management has plans for the space and will present them for the ANC’s approval on Monday. Perchance they will still incorporate air hockey?

Finally, Agraria will return to present their revised plans for a Tiki Bar. The ANC was not particularly excited about the plans presented last month. The Agraria reps tried to assure the commissioners that Agraria attracts a different crowd than its fratty neighbors. But Tiki bars are like the 60’s versions of Irish bars: they can turn an ordinary bar into an ordinary bar with louder drunk people. Are neo-Tiki bars different? We’ll see.

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ANC Round Up

GM normally tries to draw out some sort of a theme or thread of ANC meetings, but some just refuse to comply. Thus it is with tonight’s ANC meeting, so GM will dispense with the thematic jokes and dive right in to the highlights after the jump:

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