DCOZ News Feed

JOIN THE OFFICE OF ZONING ON FACEBOOK!

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:51:03 -0400

Become a fan of the Office of Zoning (OZ) on Facebook and receive exciting updates about OZ-related activities! Get weekly reminders of upcoming Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) and Zoning Commission (ZC) meetings and hearings, news items about specific cases, updates about OZ’s performance on a variety of topics, and much more. It’s as easy as clicking the Facebook icon at the top of the page! Also, you can subscribe to RSS FEEDS to get real-time feeds of OZ news items. Just click on the RSS icon at the top of the page and follow the directions for an express connection to OZ news.

UPTOWN ARTS OVERLAY TEXT AMENDMENT PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 26, 2010

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:19:30 -0400

At a Public Meeting scheduled for April 26, 2010, the Zoning Commission (ZC) will consider a proposed emergency Text Amendment submitted by the Office of Planning (OP) to allow additional flexibility for eating and drinking establishments within the ARTS Overlay District. PLEASE NOTE: As this is a meeting for setdown action, rather than a hearing, the public is encouraged to attend but will not be invited to testify. If the ZC votes to approve setdown, a hearing will be scheduled and members of the public will be permitted to testify

In its proposal, OP is recommending that the ZC:

1. Set down this case for public hearing on an emergency basis;

2. .Authorize the issuance of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking;

3. Allow the immediate publication of the Public Hearing Notice;

4. Authorize a 30-day public hearing notice instead of 45 days; and

5. In the event that the ZC does not take emergency action, consolidate the hearing with a special exception application (pursuant to 11 DCMR 1906) for a pending restaurant application within the Uptown Arts Overlay at 1361 U Street NW (Square 236).

This proposal to amend the ARTS Overlay would increase the percentage of frontage along U and 14th Streets NW that could be devoted to eating and drinking establishments from 25% to 50%; clarify that this limit applies only to ground floor frontage; change the overlay-wide method of measurement to a block-face by block-face method; and require that when the 50% limit is reached, any eating or drinking establishments would require variance relief from the regulations.

For more information about the Uptown Arts Overlay, please click on the following link http://dcoz.dc.gov/info/reg.shtm and then click on Chapter 11-19 UPTOWN ARTS-MIXED USE (ARTS) OVERLAY DISTRICT.

For a map of the Uptown Arts Overlay, please click here.

For information about obtaining zoning relief via a Special Exception in the Uptown Arts Overlay, please click here.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Zoning at (202) 727-6311 or at dcoz@dc.gov.

MERIDITH MOLDENHAUER ELECTED CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:23:59 -0400

The Board of Zoning Adjustment elected Meridith Moldenhauer as Chairperson at its March 23, 2010 Special Public Meeting. Ms. Moldenhauer has served on the Board of Zoning Adjustment since 2009. A partner at the law firm of Griffin & Murphy, LLP, Ms. Moldenhauer practices in the areas of corporate entity formation, property investments and developments, zoning, and land use. She focuses on all phases of condominium conversions, including the purchase of land, loan financing, zoning, permitting, commercial leasing, and contracts and counsels clients on creating strategic programs to cultivate, manage, and maximize real estate investments. A member of the Bar of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, Ms. Moldenhauer has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Richmond School of Law, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University, and attended Trinity College at Oxford University (Comparative Strategic Management Program).

THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT APPROVES THE FISHING SCHOOL APPLICATION

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:25:02 -0400

At its February 16, 2010 Public Hearing, the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) approved a special exception application on behalf of The Fishing School (TFS) to use the premises at 4737 Meade St. N.E. as a Child Development Center in the form of an After School Program with 65 students and 20 staff. The program will provide academically-focused after school and summer programs for under-served children in Washington, D.C. Founded by Tom Lewis, a retired Metropolitan Police Department Officer, TFS has served over 2,500 children and families with financial support, academic instruction, tutoring, financial literacy, life skills training, and parenting workshops.

In August of 2009, ABC's Extreme Makeover: New Home Edition came to DC and built a new facility for TFS.

To view the Extreme Makeover Home Edition episode on the Fishing School, click here.

INCLUSIONARY ZONING

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:26:16 -0400

Pursuant to § 107 of the Inclusionary Zoning Implementation Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 14, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-275; D.C. Official Code § 6-1041.07) and Mayor’s Order 2008-59, dated April 2, 2008, the District of Columbia implemented an Inclusionary Zoning Program that requires that a certain percentage of units in a new development or a substantial rehabilitation that expands an existing building set aside affordable units in exchange for a bonus density. The goals of the program are to create mixed income neighborhoods, produce affordable housing for a diverse labor force, seek equitable growth of new residents, and increase home ownership opportunities for those with low and moderate income levels.

For more information, please click on District of Columbia Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Affordable Housing Program

COMPLIANCE REVIEW PROGRAM

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:27:42 -0400

The Compliance Review Program is designed to ensure compliance with conditions, plans, or drawings as approved by the Zoning Commission (ZC) or the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA), and to mitigate complaints about possible violation of the approved conditions. Specifically, the program is designed to allow DCOZ to verify that an Applicant who has obtained relief from the ZC or the BZA is in compliance with the ZC or the BZA's final order. Members of the public, ANCs, community groups, and business organizations may file a complaint against an Applicant by completing Form 300.

Steps in the Compliance Review Process:

While on the DCOZ website, you may access Form 300 by Clicking "Application Forms" under Services on the left side of the page and scrolling down to Form 300 (Complaint of Non-Compliance with the Condition(s) of a BZA/ZC Order). Fill out the form in full, attach any relevant information that may help the review process, and submit one original and ten copies (by mail, email or in person) to:

Compliance Review Specialist
District of Columbia Office of Zoning
441 4th Street, NW, Suite 200 South
Washington DC, 20001

DCOZ will notify all parties and government agencies listed on the order in question.

DCOZ will review the complaint, order, plans, and drawings.*

DCOZ will meet with the Complainant to discuss the complaint, gather more information (if necessary), and outline the steps DCOZ will take.

DCOZ will meet with the Applicant and request the necessary information and/or documentation to verify that the Applicant is in compliance. If the Applicant is out of compliance, DCOZ will work to return the Applicant to full compliance.

Once DCOZ finds the Applicant in compliance with the relevant ZC or BZA order, a Report to that effect will be issued.

DCOZ will refer the Applicant to the Zoning Administrator (ZA) at DCRA and request that all appropriate action be taken to bring the Applicant into compliance. Appropriate action (which is pursuant to Titles 11 and 16 of DCMR Chapter 32) may include fines and/or the revocation of a certificate of occupancy.

*Please note that DCOZ does not include hearing transcripts in its compliance review.

DCOZ WELCOMES YOUR FEEDBACK!

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:28:47 -0400

Tell us how we are doing. After your visit to our offices or using our website, please take a few minutes to give us your feedback by clicking on the Customer Satisfaction Survey icon on the bottom of the homepage. We strive to improve our services to better assist you and your feedback is vital to achieving this. Also, please feel free to e-mail us at dcoz@dc.gov with any additional comments or suggestions you may have.