5339285 Resolution 20-777, Georgia Avenue Great Streets Neighborhood Retail Priority Area Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

20-777

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

December 17, 2014         

 

                                                                                                                                                                                            

To declare the existence of an emergency, due to congressional review, with respect to the need to amend the Great Streets Neighborhood Retail Priority Areas Approval Resolution of 2007 to clarify the boundaries of the Ward 4 Georgia Avenue Priority Area.

 

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Georgia Avenue Great Streets Neighborhood Retail Priority Area Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014”.

 

Sec. 2.  (a) In November 2009, at the request of the 14th Street Block Group, Councilmember Bowser, joined by then-Mayor Adrian Fenty, community stakeholders, and District government agencies, participated in a walk-through along the 14th Street, N.W., corridor from Spring Road to Longfellow Street to begin a strategy for improvements in this section of Ward 4.

(b) The community identified a number of needed safety improvements, including lights, crosswalks, intersections, and stop signs, as well as improvements needed for business façades, vacant properties, new businesses, transportation, and residential properties.

(c) The District’s Office of Planning, including Gizachew Andargeh, Malaika Abernathy, and Tarek Bolden, led a small area planning process with a variety of stakeholders, including Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners and civic leaders, property owners, business tenants, residents, and District government agencies, to determine how best to revitalize the corridor over the following 5 to 10 years.

(d) The community engagement process was extensive, with over 50 public meetings held.

                (e) The following were active participants and key to the development of the Central 14th Street Vision Plan and Revitalization Strategy Plan: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4C and 4A, 14th Street Block Group, 16th Street Heights Civic Association, Brightwood Community Association, Friends of 16th Street Heights Parks, Crestwood Civic Association, and business representatives such as members of the 14th Street Uptown Business Association.

(f) This 2 and a half year process resulted in a plan that provides guidance on land use, zoning, urban design, and connectivity and is intended to direct economic growth along 14th Street, N.W., by improving neighborhood retail choices and amenities, specifically targeting 3 distinct commercial nodes.

(g) On October 22, 2012, the Council held a public hearing, and on November 15, 2012, the plan was approved.

(h) To help implement the plan, the Council approved an expansion of the Georgia Avenue Retail Priority Area to include 2 of the 3 distinct commercial nodes, but the legislation inadvertently excluded the 3rd node.

(i) On October 17, 2014, the Council enacted the Georgia Avenue Great Streets Neighborhood Retail Priority Area Emergency Amendment Act of 2014, which accomplished the purpose set forth above.  The emergency legislation expires January 6, 2015.  The  associated temporary legislation, the Georgia Avenue Great Streets Neighborhood Retail Priority Area Temporary Amendment Act of 2014, has not completed its 30-day congressional review period required by section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)).

(j) This congressional review emergency is necessary to prevent an anticipated gap in the law due to congressional recess.

 

            Sec. 3.  The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Georgia Avenue Great Streets Neighborhood Retail Priority Area Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2014 be adopted after a single reading.

 

            Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.