ANC Reaffirms Opposition to Campus Plan, Calls GU's Efforts 'Grudging' and 'Small-scale'

Despite recent efforts by Georgetown University to and promote , Georgetown neighborhood groups remain staunch in their opposition to the proposed campus plan.

The plan "as amended, still does not adequately address the objectionable conditions in the neighboring community," the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC2E) wrote in a supplemental submission to the Zoning Commission. (See PDF)

The 39-page document details the ongoing concerns of neighbors in Georgetown, Hillandale and Burleith and pokes holes Georgetown new programs such as its and efforts to .

"GU's grudging, small-scale responses to community concerns throughout this case have been disappointing," the report reads.

The University, however, contends that its new trash collection trash program and the new M Street shuttle do address some of the bigger issues neighbors raised during campus plan hearings.

"We've picked up more than 132 tons of trash off neighborhood streets this year. Is there still trash? Of course," writes Stacy Kerr, a spokesperson for the university, in an email to Patch. But Kerr adds that the program is working and will continue.

"We are hopeful our neighbors will continue to work with us on improvements that benefit the entire community," writes Kerr.

The ANC document cites continuing issues with students living off-campus in residential areas, a lackluster effort by GU to address the impacts of students in the neighborhood and the university's insufficient disciplinary controls over student behavior in support of their ongoing opposition to a plan that would add students without adding housing.

"Extensive testimony and materials on file in this case demonstrate that the only remedy that will be effective in dealing with the severe objectionable impacts of the off-campus transient student group houses is for GU to provide housing for its undergraduates," the ANC states in its report.

"Nothing in GU's rebuttal materials alters this fundamental fact," the commissioners write.

The final Zoning Commission hearing is scheduled for Thursday Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m.