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BZA approves Wonder fast‑casual in Cleveland Park; grants variance for dumpster enclosure
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Summary
The Board of Zoning Adjustments voted 4‑0‑1 to approve a Wonder fast‑casual restaurant at 3519 Connecticut Ave NW in the landmarked Cleveland Park shopping center, granting a variance from the six‑foot enclosed dumpster requirement because the historic building and alley constraints prevent building an on‑site enclosure.
June 11, 2025 — The Board of Zoning Adjustments approved a special exception and a related area variance to allow a Wonder fast‑casual restaurant to occupy the former Weigandt Wines space at 3519 Connecticut Ave NW, voting 4‑0‑1.
Zach Williams of Venable, counsel for developer HDR Holdings LLC and the Wonder restaurant operator, said Wonder operates a small‑footprint, tech‑forward fast‑casual concept that partners with chefs and emphasizes app orders, pickup and limited dine‑in seating. “We reproduce [partner restaurants’] cuisines in our restaurants using our food production techniques,” Jason Boccia, associate director at Wonder, told the board.
Office of Planning recommended approval and characterized the use as appropriate to the neighborhood mixed‑use (NMU‑4/CP) district. Ron Baron of OP told the board the proposed use “would be in harmony with the general purpose intent of the zone.” ANC 3C voted to support the application, and the applicants said they had no neighborhood opposition in the record.
The relief included a variance from Subtitle H’s requirement that fast‑food establishments provide a three‑sided, six‑foot‑tall brick dumpster enclosure. Counsel explained that the historic shopping center building sits on the property line with alley access for trash; constructing a required enclosure would be difficult or impossible without altering the landmarked structure or using property not owned by the applicant. The board found a confluence of practical constraints — historic status, building location on the lot line, and shared alley trash handling for the shopping center — and voted to grant the variance.
Chairman Fred Hill moved to approve; Vice Chair Carl Blake seconded. The board’s staff recorded the vote as 4 to 0 to 1 to approve the special exception and the area variance.
The applicant will move forward with building‑permit review and public‑space coordination as needed for refuse handling and any signage.
