Zoning commission approves Wesley Theological Seminary text amendments, requires minimum off-site IZ set‑aside in Ward 3

The Zoning Commission voted 5-0 to take final action on zoning case 24-09, approving text amendments to permit Wesley Theological Seminary to proceed with university housing while establishing an enforceable off‑site Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) requirement to be provided in Ward 3, the commission announced at its public meeting.

Vice Chair Miller, who presented the motion, told colleagues the changes are intended to let Wesley "move forward with its plans to provide student housing, university housing, both Wesley students, faculty, and staff, and but mostly immediately adjacent American University faculty and staff," while also advancing Comprehensive Plan goals for affordable housing in Ward 3. Miller said the commission would require at least the minimum IZ set‑aside (8% in Ward 3, or 10% for certain ownership units) and remove language that would permit the commission to explicitly decrease that minimum during further processing. "They will have to meet a minimum the minimum amount of IZ or greater," Miller said.

The commission's adopted…