Office of Planning outlines spring–summer zoning and comprehensive-plan work, launches DC2050 outreach

The District of Columbia Office of Planning told the Zoning Commission it will bring a series of rulemaking and map-amendment packages this spring and summer, and launched public outreach for the DC2050 Comprehensive Plan.

OP staff said planned work includes RA-1 zone amendments to expand smaller matter-of-right options and design changes, amendments to allow expanded residential use of alley lots, revisions to the 10-foot rear-addition rule for rowhouses, rulemaking for Wisconsin Avenue and Connecticut Avenue based on recently adopted development frameworks, a housing-omnibus set of small housing-related amendments, and downtown text/map cleanups to ease conversions of offices to residential and to clarify relief types downtown.

OP said the housing-omnibus will gather more than a dozen smaller clarifications into a single package expected for set down in late May or early June. Items under consideration include allowing decks in front yards by special exception, accessory-apartment clarifications, alley surface-parking screening, garage-door height fixes, clarifying when GAR (green area ratio) is triggered, penthouse-height harmonization, and exempting balconies from lot-occupancy calculations.

OP also announced the DC2050 comprehensive-plan process. Public engagement is underway; staff outlined outreach through summer to identify community goals and priorities, scenario work in Oct 2025–Sept 2026, and internal refinement Oct 2026–June 2027. OP said it hopes the mayor will transmit a draft to the Council in July 2027.

Commissioners commended OP for compiling the omnibus packages and noted the coming workload. OP provided the project website: dc2050.dc.gov for public information and engagement.