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Zoning Commission approves five-year temporary campus plan amendment for Howard University at Square 2882
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Summary
The Zoning Commission voted 4–0–1 July 21 to allow Howard University to place modular labs, offices and classrooms on the Banneker South parking lot for up to five years, subject to beautification conditions and coordination with ANC 1E.
The Zoning Commission voted 4–0–1 July 21 to approve zoning case No. 20-08E, a five-year temporary campus plan amendment allowing Howard University to locate modular laboratory, office and classroom space on the Banneker South parking lot at Square 2882, Sherman Avenue NW.
The commission’s approval limits the use to five years and requires the university to work with Office of Zoning legal staff and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1E on “beautification” conditions, including upgraded fencing, signage and landscape screening. The Office of Planning recommended approval and the District Department of Transportation filed a report stating no objection; ANC 1E submitted a supporting report at Exhibit 15.
Assistant Vice President for Planning and Architecture Derek Neece Williams and Teresa Edmonson, manager of community engagement in Howard’s Office of External Affairs, presented the application and described the neighborhood outreach. Williams said the modular installation would affect roughly 50 surface parking spaces on the Banneker South lot, which has about 178 unstriped spaces in total, and that many spaces have been used as staging for the university’s steam plant modernization project. “This will house laboratory space, office space, and classroom space for the physics department as we perform a renovation of their existing building on the campus,” Williams said.
Edmonson said the university repeatedly engaged ANC 1E and had reached agreement on fencing and other visual treatments. “They really wanted us to beautify the spaces,” Edmonson said, describing ANC 1E as “extremely supportive of Howard University.” The ANC report the commission entered into the record noted two concerns the ANC wanted addressed: limiting the temporary use to five years and implementing graphic and planting-based beautification of the lots.
Office of Planning’s Maxine Brown Roberts told the commission her agency’s report (in the record) recommended approval and that the proposal meets special-exception requirements. The District Department of Transportation’s report (Exhibit 16) stated it had no objection. The commission’s public record contained no witnesses for or against the application at the hearing.
Commissioner Wright moved to approve the case with the five-year time limit and with final beautification language to be coordinated with Office of Zoning legal staff and ANC 1E; Commissioner Stidham seconded. The roll-call vote was Wright — yes; Stidham — yes; Chair Anthony Hood — yes; Vice Chair Miller — yes; Commissioner Imamura — absent. The final vote was 4–0–1 to approve. The final action covers both Banneker South and Banneker North (the latter already contains three modular units installed in 2018), and the commission directed the applicant to provide a draft order, working with OZLD, within two weeks to finalize the beautification conditions.
The commission and several members emphasized that the approval is temporary and noted the long-term campus plan anticipates redevelopment of the site with residential buildings and underground parking. The university described the modular installation as consistent with its campus plan and said it would return to the commission if an extension beyond five years were needed.
The Zoning Commission scheduled its next meeting for July 28, 2025. The commission closed the hearing after the approval.
