Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 6A) met via Zoom on Oct. 10. Commissioners Mike Velasquez (6A02), Roberta Shapiro (6A03), Dave Wethington (6A05), Robb Dooling (6A06) and Steve Moilanen (6A07) were in attendance. Commissioner Amber Gove (6A04, chair) was absent. Single Member District (SMD) 6A01 is currently vacant.
Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis istration (ABCA) Director Fred Moosally briefed the commission on new cannabis legislation that the agency hopes will help crack down on illegal storefronts. The impact of cannabis businesses along the H Street corridor on public safety, has long been of concern for commissioners and community .
Aligning cannabis regulations with those for alcohol, this new legislation would grant adjacent property owners and daycare centers standing to protest medical cannabis licenses, Moosally said. Additionally, new applicants would be required locate at least 400 feet away from recreation centers and schools. This is an increase of 100 feet over the current rule.
ABCA enforcement against unlicensed cannabis businesses has “picked up,” Moosally stated. In collaboration with several city agencies, including the US Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the ABCA has issued more than 84 warnings, 30 cease and desist notices and eight closures, he said. Two of the closures fall within ANC 6A’s boundaries. Enforcement is a main focus of ABCA.
Moreover, ABCA is concerned about the safety of products sold by such retailers, Moosally stated. Some of the products seized by his agency have tested positive for amphetamines, he said.
Commissioner Shapiro thanked ABCA and its sister agencies for shuttering two neighborhood illegal storefronts. However, he expressed concern about the remaining 18 stores. “Loopholes” allow these “flagrantly illegal operations” to continually violate District law, he said.
What the commission could do to help the agency? Commissioner Velasquez asked. What about prospect of the $10,000 fine for landlords? he asked.
Fining landlords is “working really well,” Moosally said. “Without the landlords we couldn’t get to where we need to be,” he added.
The commission voted to of legislation granting standing to adjacent property owners and groups of neighbors to protest medical cannabis licenses and allow ABCA to impose moratoriums on new medical cannabis licenses similar to the provisions for liquor licenses.
Other Matters
The commission voted to:
• approve a new settlement agreement with 7 River Mart at 250 11th St. NE and an update to the existing agreement allowing the sale of spirits;
• approve two new draft settlement agreements, one for alcoholic beverage license applications and one for medical cannabis license applications, simplifying the language and complying with ABCA recommendations;
• request that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) clarify plans for traffic calming along 11th Street NE between Florida Avenue and East Capitol Streets;
• request The DC Dept. of Transportation (DDOT) to implement an all-way stop sign at the intersection of Tennessee Avenue and 14th Street NE, repaint the bike lane on 14th Street NE between E Street and Tennessee Avenue and restore the raised crosswalk at 14th and E Streets NE;
• request DDOT to install an all-way stop sign at the intersection of Tennessee Avenue and E Street NE;
• the application to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) filed by the owner of 910 12th St. NE for special exceptions from the rooftop, upper floor element and rear wall requirements to construct a third story with roof deck and a three-story with cellar rear addition;
• protest all alcoholic beverage license and medical cannabis applications and renewals, unless the commission is able to meet and consider such an application before the published protest deadline, on the grounds of peace, order and quiet;
• request DDOT convert the 1400 block of G Street NE to a westbound one way street;
• DDOT’s Notice of Intent (NOI) to make parking adjustments along H Street NE;
• write to city and council officials about the serious and life-threatening failures of the Office of Unified Communications (OUC), requesting the appointment of an external monitor or advisor to oversee the OUC operations;
• request MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith impose a 30-day drug free zone on the 800 block of 8th Street NE in response to increased drug activity and shootings in the area.
ANC 6A will meet next on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Get details on committee meetings and how to online at anc6a.org.
Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at [email protected].
