10 Dec 2010

Another Bite at the Apple for AppleTree

The current site proposed for AppleTree. Photo by Sharee Lawler.

At last month’s ANC 6A meeting, commissioners voted convincingly to appeal AppleTree’s permit to build a school at 138 12th Street, NE on the grounds that the permit was issued in error.  AppleTree’s initial permit was issued in 2007, giving the school two years to begin construction.  Nothing has happened on the site so when a new permit was issued this fall, some Commissioners argued that it was inappropriate, especially considering subsequent changes in zoning law that would require the school to go through the additional step of getting a variance, which was not done for the new permit.

And so the ANC took an official position.  Until it didn’t.

At last night’s meeting, Commissioner Mary Beatty raised the issue again, saying that the earlier vote was unfair because it was taken when a number of Commissioners supporting AppleTree were not in attendance.  She backed her argument for support with an audience full of parents and officials advocating for the school.  Parents talked about dismay at the long waiting lists for local schools like Maury and the neighborhood’s need for additional options.

Commissioner David Holmes argued that the chosen site is inappropriate for use as a school.  He said he is not opposed to AppleTree and he would love for them to come to 6A and even locate in his Single Member District, but he cannot support the chosen location.  Commissioner Drew Ronneberg, chair of 6A’s Economic Development & Zoning Committee, followed with his statement that his opposition is narrowly on the grounds that the current permit does not conform with current zoning laws.  Commissioner Nick Alberti brought forward the motion to appeal the permit in November’s meeting and holds similar views to Holmes and Ronneberg.

The tone of the discussion mirrored what has clearly been a divisive issue within the commission.  Beatty said the mean-spiritedness of the AppleTree debate is what convinced her not to seek re-election this year.  She also contended that some commissioners have underlying motives for their opposition to the school’s location that have nothing to do with safety, traffic, parking or other questions of appropriateness raised in the meeting.

Beatty moved that the Commission not appeal the permit to build.  She was joined by Commission Chair Kelvin Robinson, who said at last month’s meeting that the ANC has had it’s chance at AppleTree on three occasions and lost so it is time to get out of their way.  Commissioners Raphael Marshall (who abstained in November) and Gladys Mack (who was not at November’s meeting) also voted with Beatty, for a final count of 4-3 in favor of the motion.

So now the AppleTree saga comes to an end.  Again.  Maybe.

Sharee Lawler is a member of 6A’s Economic Development and Zoning Committee and Commissioner-elect for ANC 6A05.

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