Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
BZA approves three zoning requests, including two accessory‑building items, in April 23 meeting
Loading...
Summary
On April 23 the Board of Zoning Adjustment approved three items by recorded vote: expedited rear‑yard accessory building relief at 3822 Van Ness NW (application 21286) and special‑exception relief for accessory structures at 54 Randolph Place NW (21272) and 21 Channing Street NE (21274).
The District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment approved three items during its April 23 meeting: an expedited rear‑yard accessory building relief request at 3822 Van Ness NW and two special‑exception requests involving accessory buildings and apartments.
Expedited review: Application No. 21286 (3822 Van Ness Street NW) sought a special exception from the rear‑yard location requirements to allow a two‑story rear addition and one‑story side additions to a semi‑detached principal dwelling. Chairman Fred Hill reviewed the file and the Office of Planning and ANC reports; the board approved the expedited review by roll call. Vice Chair Carl Blake and members Kershaw Smith and Dr. Amir Imamura recorded votes in support; staff reported the motion carried by recorded vote.
Accessory‑building cases: Application No. 21272 (54 Randolph Place NW) sought special‑exception relief to legalize and then reduce an existing unpermitted rear carport to meet the 70% lot‑occupancy threshold. Travis Slocum, the former owner and agent for the applicant, described the built structure and proposed reductions (remove 6 feet of length and 1 foot on each side), presented photographs and said neighborhood groups including ANC 5E and the Bloomingdale Civic Association had voted to support the project. The board approved the request and the chair’s motion referenced the site plat in Exhibit 2 as the project description to be implemented.
Application No. 21274 (21 Channing Street NE) requested relief from the accessory‑building maximum footprint in the R‑3 zone to allow a two‑story addition to an existing one‑story garage and to convert the upper floor to an accessory apartment. Attorney Alex Wilson presented the proposal; Office of Planning staff recommended approval and ANC 5B filed unanimous support. The board voted to approve the special exception.
Why it matters: These approvals regularize rear‑yard work and allow modest additions that expand accessory units and living space. The Randolph Place approval resolved an enforcement notice in the sale of the property; the board required that the project conform to the plat filed in the case record.
Votes at a glance: • Application 21286 (3822 Van Ness St NW) — Motion to approve; roll‑call approval (board recorded all votes in favor). • Application 21272 (54 Randolph Pl NW) — Motion to approve with implementation based on Exhibit 2 plat; roll‑call approval (board recorded YES votes by participating members). • Application 21274 (21 Channing St NE) — Motion to approve; OP and ANC recommended approval; roll‑call approval.
All three matters were decided at the April 23 meeting; the board recorded votes and directed standard case‑order follow‑up.
