Letter
Dear Mayor Williams:
During its meeting of 19 February, the Commission reviewed the concept for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) on the Tregaron Estate (SL 04-036), consisting of sixteen (16) single family dwellings and associated infrastructure. The proposed site plan was approved. This project may prove to be a model for sensitive estate development throughout the country. The. developer is to be commended for selecting an exceptionally competent team, who made a thorough and compelling presentation of the project. Although the Commission understands the concerns of the community regarding the possible degradation of the existing fragment of the historic Ellen Shipman landscape design, the project has considerable promise to restore large portions of the landscape and rescue it from benign neglect. In addition, the architecture and infrastructure have been carefully sited to preserve the current and future health of as many trees as possible.
As the project develops, the Commission requests the consideration of some concerns. Because of the importance of the historic landscape, a reduction in the number of dwellings should have further study, provided the landscape restoration and other community amenities remain as part of the development. In addition, the Commission will be interested in the provisions ensuring future maintenance of the restored landscape. Finally, the grading and location of the road should be carefully studied with regard to tree and open space conservation. Final approval of this proposal will be dependent on the resolution of these landscape issues.
All future submissions should contain extensive information with regard to the landscape design and. restoration, as well as continued. development of the architecture. Please have the applicant keep the staff informed on any significant changes to the proposed development. The Commission looks forward to continued review of the Tregaron PUD as the architecture and landscape design develops.
Sincerely,
/s/
Charles H. Atherton
Secretary
The Honorable Mayor Anthony Williams
Mayor of the District of Columbia
John Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20004
cc: Cynthia A. Giordano, Arnold & Porter, LLP
Steve Callcott, D.C. Historic Preservation Office
Craig Curtis, Miller Hull Partnership
Sheila Brady, Oehme, van Sweden & Associates