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BZA releases final orders, OKs permits and schedules hearings at Feb. 26 session
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Summary
The District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment issued several final orders, approved multiple applications and set return dates for continued matters during its Feb. 26, 2025 meeting. Key approvals included time extensions and conversions, while other items were continued for supplemental reports or additional materials.
The District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) met Feb. 26, 2025, by webcast and voted to release final orders, approve time extensions and grant special-permit uses while setting return dates for matters needing supplemental materials. Chair Fred Hill convened the session; Vice Chair Carl Blake and board members Lorna John, Gershon Smith and Dr. Joe Imamura participated in roll-call votes on recorded items.
The board approved several routine and contested items on the consent and hearing calendars. On the consent side the board voted 5–0 to release the final order in appeal No. 19961 (motion by Chairman Hill; seconded by Vice Chair Blake). The board also released the final order in appeal No. 20183 on a 4–0–1 roll call (Miss John recused/not participating on that vote), again on a motion by Chairman Hill seconded by Vice Chair Blake. Separately the board approved a two‑year time-extension for application No. 20873A (Network Towers 2) extending an order’s validity through March 7, 2027 (5–0).
During the hearing calendar the board took action on multiple development applications and chancery matters. Highlights and outcomes: - Application No. 21267 (Embassy of the Republic of Poland, 1740 Massachusetts Ave. NW) — The Foreign Missions BZA voted 5–0 to “not disapprove” the chancery use requested in the MU‑1/DC zone after review and submissions from the Office of Foreign Missions, Office of Planning and the ANC representative. - Application No. 21227 (321 D St. SE, Nathan and Stephanie Cooley) — The BZA approved the applicant’s special‑exception requests for a two‑story rear addition and related lot‑coverage relief (5–0). - Application No. 21229 (WC Properties LLC, 62–64 Forrester St. SW) — The board granted use‑variance relief allowing an 11‑unit apartment building and related screening relief after reviewing the applicant’s financial and site‑constraint evidence (5–0). - Application No. 21233 (Bristlecone LLC, 1220 Mount Olivet Rd. NE) — The BZA approved multiple special exceptions for a mixed PDR project that includes penthouse habitable space with an eating‑and‑drinking use and a penthouse roof venue, recorded as 4–0–1 (one member not recorded in that roll call).
The board also scheduled return hearings or left the record open for supplemental materials on several applications where staff or members requested additional detail: - Application No. 21246 (Bobby Henry, 1956 Bridal St. SE) was continued for a full hearing on March 26, 2025. The board asked the applicant to submit revised measurements by March 12 and requested an Office of Planning supplemental by March 19. - Application No. 21239 (John Haman, 3220 Brothers Pl. SE) — the board closed live testimony but left the record open for a supplemental Office of Planning filing and deadline-driven submissions (OP asked to file by March 3; parties to respond by March 10) and scheduled a decision session for March 12, 2025. - Foreign Missions case No. 21252 (Embassy of the Republic of Cuba, 2630 16th St. NW) — after an emergency closed meeting with legal counsel, the board asked the applicant to supply detailed material samples and a brief establishing the site’s mixed‑use locational criteria by March 3; OP will file a supplemental by March 10 and the matter is scheduled for decision on March 12.
Why it mattered: The BZA’s actions affect how properties may be used or modified across the city — from retaining the legal status of past permits to approving conversions, time extensions and new PDR‑mixed projects. Several decisions provide relief intended to enable projects judged viable by staff and the board while other items were continued so the agency and affected parties can add factual detail to the record.
What’s next: Multiple items were placed on the calendar for decision in March after the requested submissions arrive. Applications left open for supplemental reports will return to the board for final votes once Office of Planning, applicants and any parties file the additional documents.
