Mat Bader: status of the ANC5E vote in support of the VMP Master Plan

See this message from Bloomingdale resident Mat Bader:

I would like to update everyone on the status of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 5E vote in support the Vision McMillan Partners (VMP) Master Plan for developing McMillan.

I attended the Stronghold Civic Association (association representing folks directly across from McMillan and further south on NE side of North Capitol) meeting last night. At this meeting, Commissioner C. Dianne Barnes stated that the ANC letter of support, voted on and passed by the ANC in a 5-2 vote, is the same draft letter of support provided to the McMillan Advisory Group (MAG) on November 14, 2013 (changed MAG in the header to ANC). According to the MAG Recording Secretary for that meeting, and others who attended the MAG meeting, it was never mentioned that the same letter would be brought before the ANC.

                   

The draft letter of support brought before the MAG was tabled until such time as the members can review and comment on the document. Further, the draft letter brought before the MAG included the name of the Vice Chair despite his having no prior knowledge of, or input to, the letter.

             

While I do not have a copy of the ANC letter of support, I do have a copy of the MAG letter of support that was voted against (attached in this email for you to post). Commissioner Barnes stated that the ANC letter of support will be posted on the ANC 5E website (anc5e.org) sometime in the future.
                     

According to p.30 (30 of 41, actually p. 22 of physical document) of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) application statement of support submitted by VMP:

"On November 19, 2013, ANC 5E voted 5-2 to support the PUD redevelopment."
                                                                                                                                 

Further, in Exhibit G of the PUD application, VMP submitted a 2012 resolution of support from ANC 5C (ANC 5C preceded ANC 5E). This specific vote of support led the Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA) to issue its own resolution of no confidence in ANC 5C on matters relating to McMillan on the grounds that ANC 5C did not consider the sentiments of the community when voting.
               

While I will not speak to the specific concerns of Stronghold residents, the Stronghold Civic Association voted unanimously to send a letter to the ten ANC commissioners requesting they rescind the November vote in support of the VMP plan. They also voted unanimously to send a letter to the Mayor's Agent indicating that the ANC voted without first consulting the residents of Stronghold, seeking input from these residents, or considering prior concerns held by the residents of Stronghold.

I am still looking into the status of the bylaws posted to the ANC 5E website, in which Article VII, Section 8 states: "Commissioners shall seek the support/non-support of their respective civic association(s) prior to requesting placement of a developer or anyone seeking ANC 5E support on the ANC 5E agenda for a vote." There is no definitive answer as yet as commissioners disagree on the status of those bylaws.
            

If anyone would care to discuss either the Stronghold meeting last night or anything related to the McMillan development plan and PUD application, please do reach out to me at mathew.bader@gmail.com. As always, I would love to hear both from those in support and those opposed to the plan. In either instance, please let me know specifically what you do and do not like about the current plan.
             

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  
                                                                                                                      

Mathew Bader

Bloomingdale Civic Association McMillan Advisory Group Representative
                                                      

MAG Letter of Support (Voted Against) 2013 11 14 by Scott Roberts