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Articles
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| Etherly confirmed to zoning commission |
VOICE writes, "BY KATIE REYES
Capitol Hill resident Curtis Etherly was confirmed Oct. 2 to the D.C. Zoning Commission, despite efforts from a local advisory group to scuttle the nomination.
“I am very humbled by this nomination. All of the council members have been supportive throughout the whole process,” Etherly said of the D.C. Council’s unanimous decision.
Etherly, who is the vice president of public affairs for the Coca-Cola Enterprise Bottling Company for the Mid-Atlantic, had served on the Board of Zoning Adjustment since 2001. Last year, Etherly ran as a Democrat for the Ward 6 council seat, but lost in the primary to Tommy Wells."
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He has also served on the boards of directors for several nonprofit community service organizations, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the Greater Washington Urban League and the Washington Math, Science and Technology Public Charter School.
However, his affiliation with a local charter school advocacy group concerned the Northeast Capitol Hill advisory neighborhood commission (ANC 6A) about possible conflicts of interest.
During a Sept. 26 confirmation hearing, Northeast commissioner David Holmes said that while Etherly served on the zoning board, he failed to disclose a possible conflict of interest during a hearing last fall.
Etherly sat on the zoning board hearing on the AppleTree Institute for Innovation in Education’s request to place a charter school on the 100 block of 12th Street, NE. At that time, Holmes said, Etherly failed to disclose his association with D.C. Action for Children. The group opposed legislation pushed by Holmes’ commission to make it tougher for charter schools to move into residentially zoned neighborhoods.
“We believe any person empowered as a board member or commissioner should be required to disclose to all parties in administrative hearings any fiduciary relationship or any membership in organizations which advocate on matters relevant to measures under consideration by their board or commission,” Holmes told council members during the Sept. 26 hearing.
Etherly, who is a board member of D.C. Action for Children, acknowledged the Northeast advisory commission’s concerns during his testimony.
“With respect to our ANC members, we share a lot of concerns in regards to a balance between developments, both residential and commercial,” he said. “I understand that at times there will be conflicts of interest, which is why we will approach each issue carefully and precisely in order to move forward.”
Holmes said he hopes Etherly’s omission is a one-time occurrence.
“Curtis Etherly is a good man with a positive curriculum in place. We hope that this was just one mistake. But we wonder that if he was inattentive of the guidelines of the ANC, then will he be capable to uphold these for future situations?” Holmes asked after the Sept. 26 hearing.
Etherly said he will take the experience and learn from it.
“I definitely want to be open and available for residents if they have any questions regarding zoning laws,” Etherly said, adding that he hopes to establish a connection between his position on the Zoning Commission and the neighboring residents.
When it comes to the future of the District, “I am looking forward to being a part of helping to make the city of the District of Columbia one of the best in the nation for work and for play,” Etherly said.
Meanwhile, the Northeast Capitol Hill advisory neighborhood commission is pursuing an investigation by the city inspector general into an August meeting on the AppleTree charter school. The commission alleges that the Board of Zoning Adjustment, with Etherly at the helm, violated sunshine laws governing proper public notice for meetings and hearings. Etherly, as vice chair of the board, postponed the meeting for a day to accommodate Chairwoman Ruthanne Miller, who attended a funeral.
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Posted on Oct 11, 2007 19:55pm.
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