5634844 Public Hearing on Bill 21-218, Lots 804, 814, 818, 820, 822 in Square 1230 Eminent Domain Authorization Act of 2015, and Bill 21-254, Closing of a portion of Washington Avenue, Southwest, and portions of 5A and 5B ramps to I-295, and ...

CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

 

ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING

on

Bill 21-218, Lots 804, 814, 818, 820, 822 in Square 1230 Eminent Domain

Authorization Act of 2015;

  

and

  

Bill 21-254, Closing of a portion of Washington Avenue, Southwest, and portions of 5A and 5B ramps to I-295, and transfer of jurisdiction of the closed portions of Washington Avenue, Southwest, 5A and 5B ramps to I-295 and the transfer of jurisdiction of portions of Reservation 729, S.O. 14-16582A and 14-16582B Act of 2015

 

on

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

9:30 a.m., Room 120, John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

            Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public hearing before the Committee of the Whole on Bill 21-218, the “Lots 804, 814, 818, 820, 822 in Square 1230 Eminent Domain Authorization Act of 2015,” and Bill 21-254, the “Closing of a portion of Washington Avenue, Southwest, and portions of 5A and 5B ramps to I-295, and transfer of jurisdiction of the closed portions of Washington Avenue, Southwest, 5A and 5B ramps to I-295 and the transfer of jurisdiction of portions of Reservation 729, S.O. 14-16582A and 14-16582B Act of 2015.”  The hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 in hearing room 120 of the John A. Wilson Building. 

 

            The stated purpose of Bill 21-218 is to authorize the Mayor to assemble Lots 804, 814, 818, 820, and 822 in Square 1230, through the use of eminent domain.  Together, these lots comprise what appears to be a public alley in Georgetown regularly used by the public and the city, as well as by adjacent landowners to access their property.  Bill 21-218 would authorize the Mayor to take ownership of the parcels for alley purposes.  The Committee will use this hearing to explore other options, such as to revoke the recent tax sales of these parcels, or to revise Bill 21-218 to protect the abutting landowners. 

 

The stated purpose of Bill 21-254 is to order the closing of a portion of Washington Avenue, Southwest, and portions of the 5A and 5B ramps to I-295, and to approve the transfer of jurisdiction of the closed portion of Washington Avenue, the 5A and 5B ramps to I-295, and the transfer of jurisdiction of portions of Reservation 729.  Such action will enable the formal and final conveyance of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial site to the National Park Service.

 

Those who wish to testify are asked to telephone the Committee of the Whole at
[phone], or email Cynthia LeFevre, Legislative Counsel, at [e-mail], and to provide your name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Monday, September 21, 2015.  Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony.  If submitted by the close of business on September 21, 2015, the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.  Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.  A copy of Bills 21-218 and 21-254 can be obtained through the Legislative Services Division of the Secretary of the Council or on http://lims.dccouncil.us.

 

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on October 7, 2015.