On Wednesday, March 9, the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) held a marathon 8 hour hearing on Maret’s application to build a sports complex at the ECC grounds.
The day before the BZA hearing, the DC Office of the General Counsel sent a detailed letter to the BZA in strong opposition to Maret’s request for zoning relief to build their facility.
The OAG letter recommended the BZA “…reject the Maret School’s application and request it to either seek a use variance or pursue an amendment of the Zoning Regulations or Zoning Map to authorize the commercially-intense use of the proposed Off-Campus Athletic Facility in the low-intensity R-1B zone. “
No decision was made on Maret’s proposal at the meeting. The BZA postponed a ruling until March 30 and is keeping the record open until March 16 for Maret supply supplemental material requested by board members. Friends of the Field will respond to the new material on March 23.
At the hearing our lawyer Ed Donohue outlined Friends of the Field’s legal argument, and experts testified about noise, traffic, and environmental concerns, including potential toxic exposure from the plastic turf that Maret plans to install.
Friends of the Field then presented an alternate plan for an athletic field at ECC — more aligned with the R1-B zoning of this residential neighborhood: One multipurpose field only (for soccer, lacrosse, and football) situated with adequate buffers from the 58 surrounding homes, made with healthier natural grass, not toxic plastic turf, and no leasing to outside groups.
We believe this alternative will be more in harmony with the residential nature of the neighborhood.
Friends of the Field proposed a single natural grass multi-sport field (on right) instead of 2 plastic turf fields Maret is seeking (on left). A single field offers greater buffers for neighboring homes, preserves more trees, and will result in less intense use.
