Opinion ID: 2208658
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Deference to the ANC

Text: Finally, petitioners claim that the BZA's decision-making process was flawed because insufficient deference was given to the concerns raised by the ANC. As we have often emphasized, the BZA must give great weight to those concerns and must specifically address them in the written rationale for the governmental decision taken. D.C.Code § 1-261(d) (1971), quoted in Levy v. District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment, 570 A.2d 739, 746 (D.C.1990). Here, however, the issues raised by the ANC arewith one exceptionidentical to those raised by petitioners. Those issues were the subject of written submissions and live testimony. The February 1988 hearing, in particular, demonstrates that the BZA did accord great weight to the ANC's positions. The BZA was not required to do more. Upper Georgia Avenue Planning Committee, supra, 500 A.2d at 993. The one issue raised by the ANC and not by petitioners involves the entrance to the underground parking garage. The ANC maintained that the location of the entrance immediately adjacent to the west wall of the Condominium would generate an unacceptable level of noise and congestion. This point, however, was examined in detail by the BZA. Mr. Callow gave extensive testimony concerning the effect of the Addition on traffic patterns, opining that [t]he vehicles entering the new Burns garage will not cause congestion on that street [I Street] and will not pose a safety problem for pedestrians. The BZA concluded that the parking garage ramp cannot feasibly be located on 22nd Street, and that its location on I Street will not tend to affect adversely neighboring property due to traffic, noise, or fumes. There will be no pedestrian conflict with vehicles entering the garage, nor will left-turning vehicles create an objectionable condition due to congestion or conflict with westbound traffic. There will be no objectionable condition due to noise or fumes from the garage or ramp. BZA CL ¶ 9. It is evident to us that the BZA did indeed address the ANC's concerns with particularity, and that the decision to go against the ANC's recommendations was sufficiently supported by evidence in the record.