The Georgetown ANC met last night and among other topics addressed contractors who over-use dumpsters for home renovations and also abuse "no parking" permits at these renovations. The catalysts for the debate are two notorious renovations on 31st Street -- one at the corner of O, and the other only a block over at P -- but there are others throughout the village.
I did not attend the meeting, but a conscientious neighbor was there and sent this report:
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Tom Birch opened the issue about an hour+ into the meeting. He began by noting this is not a new issue; the ANC discussed it about 10 years ago though it took no action then. He also recommended that the ANC discuss the issue but make no decisions on this issue until the next meeting in September(?). He then made the following points in a very well articulated presentation of the problems caused by the multitudes of dumpsters in Georgetown. He specifically referenced that 31st Street between N and P is the current locus of the problem, but that everyone in Georgetown should be concerned.
Summary of the main points Tom made:
-- Dumpsters are proliferating in Georgetown. They not only take up valuable parking spaces but are wider than cars and so also cause traffic problems. Many are open and attract rodents.
-- There also appears to be an abuse of the parking permits for the "construction" vehicles. Many are being used for workers personal cars. These can and should be ticketed and the sites monitored closely to ensure this doesn't happen.
-- An additional problem is the length of time that dumpsters remain in place. Many now have permits for 6 months and then easily get renewals.
-- He then noted that John Richardson, one of largest contractors in Georgetown for many years, does NOT use dumpsters. He brings in a truck to haul out trash and materials as needed.
-- Bill Starrels then added that Old Town Alexandria, with similarities to Georgetown, has outlawed dumpsters completely.
-- He also said that Jack Evans and his office are very interested in this issue and want to be helpful. (Note there were representatives from the Mayor's office at the meeting but they may have been outside at the time of dumpster discussions dealing with other issues.)
-- There are also many DC Departments that need to be aware of and involved in this issue -- Public Works, Transportation and Consumer/Regulatory Affairs.
Possible solutions:
-- The ideal solution would be to ban dumpsters as Old Town Alexandria does. They are not in keeping with the historic village.
-- More expensive permits for dumpsters and much shorter time frames authorized, with the price of the permit going up for follow-on authorizations.
-- Limiting the number of dumpsters authorized within some specified area.
Community Comments:
-- The costs of more expensive permits would just be borne by the homeowner and might not solve the problem.
--A 31st Street resident thanked Tom for putting this issue on the agenda and articulating all the problems these dumpsters cause.
-- While it would be ideal if we followed Old Town Alexandria's lead, in the meantime something needed to be done. In particular, there should be a limit on the number of dumpsters -- 1 within a 3 block radius -- and the price of the permit should be higher. All dumpsters also needed to be strictly time limited with much shorter authorizations.
--People may have to wait to do their construction. If they can't wait they can use the John Richardson method.
-- An additional problem of great concern was that may of the large trucks are damaging the trees on the streets and that construction companies don't appear to care and only take the minimal steps to protect them.
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