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BZA permits basement accessory apartment in R‑3/GT zone; ANC 2E and neighbors supported application
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Summary
The Board of Zoning Adjustment granted a special exception for an accessory apartment conversion in the basement of an existing attached dwelling at 3132 O Street NW, citing Office of Planning support and unanimous ANC 2E support.
The Board of Zoning Adjustment voted Oct. 15 to permit a basement accessory apartment in an existing attached dwelling at 3132 O Street NW (case 21350), after the Office of Planning recommended approval and ANC 2E submitted a unanimous support letter.
Alex Wilson, counsel for the applicant, said the proposal converts part of an existing basement bedroom and laundry area into a self-contained studio accessory apartment without changing the building footprint. The applicant told the board the principal dwelling will remain owner-occupied and that occupants in both units will total no more than six people; the accessory apartment will be about 10% of the building’s gross floor area.
Michael Irpich of the Office of Planning recommended approval and said the application meets the special-exception criteria under Subtitle U §253 for accessory apartments in R‑3/GT zones. The board noted three neighbor support letters, including from the adjacent neighbor to the west, and the ANC’s unanimous support.
Chair Hill, Vice Chair Blake and Commissioner Miller voted to approve the application; staff recorded the vote as 3–0–2 in favor. The board said the application retained the existing footprint and complied with occupancy and size limits for accessory apartments required by the zoning code.
Action: BZA approved application 21350 to create an accessory apartment in the basement of an existing attached principal dwelling in the R‑3/GT zone.
