A lawyer representing the Van Ness Zips Dry Cleaners asked ANC 3F at its May meeting to support a permanent zoning exception for its rear alley parking lot. The commissioners had other ideas.
The parking lot used by Zips, Burger King and Bread Furst, on the east side of the 4400 block of Connecticut Avenue, is zoned for residential use only, so the property owners must periodically apply to the DC Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) to renew their special exceptions. Input from advisory neighborhood commissions, by law, is given “great weight” by the board. And ANC 3F leaped on this opportunity to urge changes to the way the parking lot is managed.
A casual observer might not even realize the parking areas are separate, but it’s hard to miss the gridlock that occurs during busy periods. Also, vehicles entering and exiting the Zips lot must share one lane, so cars waiting to enter can gum up traffic through the alley.
There’s only one way in and out of the Zips parking lot.
At the May 17th meeting, ANC 3F commissioners brought up the traffic issues and requested that representatives of John R. Klein, the owner of 4418-4420 Connecticut Avenue, work with other owners to come up with a “holistic” plan for rear alley parking.
Representatives from Borger Management, which manages this property, were open to working with other property owners, and Theresa Cameron, executive director of Van Ness Main Street, agreed to help arrange a meeting.
Commissioners Sally Gresham and Mary Beth Ray also pointed out the trash littering the parking area.
The Zips case comes up before the Board of Zoning Adjustment on July 19th. The ANC will take another look at the zoning exception at its June 21st meeting.
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Albemarle neighbor says
The problem is that the Zips lot is way to small to accomodate their business level and always has been, especially with the narrow one way configuration. I doubt very much if adjacent landowners will give up their spots for Zips customers when they barely have enough for their own customers in a much better and more spacious configuration. Zips customers regularly overflow the other lots without permission.
Also the barrels on the BK lot are leftover from the Chik Fil A soil testing on the BK property.
Andres Hindron says
Those barrels do not belong to the car wash in any way shape or form. Those barrels are core samples left there by Chik FIl A .
Tracy J. says
Thanks for your comment. We’ll remove that reference from the story. Now the question is, why would Chick-fil-A leave them behind? Their reps were so insistent they’d be a good neighbor.
Albemarle neighbor says
They have been gone since early May you all used an old picture……..
Tracy J. says
The photo was taken the day of the ANC meeting, May 17th. How long had the barrels been there? And it’s great that they have been removed.
John Thoms says
Not true the picture was taken May 17.
Paul says
It really makes no sense, from a public perspective, for those lots to be “ZIPS’ lot” or “Burger King’s lot”, etc. The District should use eminent domain to take all the area between Albemarle and the hotel lot and create a unified lot, improve the flow, eliminate the barriers between sections. I’m not suggesting a parking structure, but a single parking area, paved and managed as a whole. The District with ANC advice could work out the details — such as the needs of the car wash.. Businesses that now pay to maintain their properties individually could pay into a common fund. Look at a satellite view from Google Maps — there are six distinct properties that could be combined into one overall plan. This should also benefit the neighbors because the District could ensure there is proper sound dampening between the combined lot and private properties.