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Zoning Commission approves several modifications, a text amendment and time extensions
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Summary
The Zoning Commission voted unanimously among members present to approve two modification requests, a text amendment for Living Classrooms Foundation and multiple time-extension waivers; absent commissioners did not vote.
The District of Columbia Zoning Commission on a virtual meeting approved a set of zoning items on short notice, voting 3-0-2 on multiple requests including two modification-without-hearing applications, a text amendment for the Living Classrooms Foundation and several two-year time-extension requests with waivers.
The actions were narrowly procedural: each item was presented by Office of Zoning staff, received the Office of Planning recommendation in the record, and drew no substantive opposition during the commission's deliberations. Michelle Schelling of the Office of Zoning read staff summaries and recorded roll-call votes for each item.
Why it matters: The approvals allow property-specific updates and keep previously approved planned-unit developments (PUDs) alive while applicants continue to secure financing. The actions affect development capacity at sites across the city, from Dupont Circle to Georgetown and the Mid City area, and preserve applicants' entitlement timelines.
The commission’s votes (all recorded as 3 to 0 to 2) reflected the three members present — Chairman Anthony Hood, Vice Chair Miller and Commissioner Wright — and two members absent (Commissioners Stidham and Imamura). Staff noted that summary orders would be prepared where appropriate.
What the commission approved
- Z.C. Case No. 74-10B (Eufram Building / Amalgamated Transit Union, 21 Dupont Circle NW): Approved a modification without a hearing to permit modernization (new entrance/vestibule, canopy, windows, lobby and skylight) and a resulting increase in gross floor area that requires a condition modification to ZC Order No. 101. Office of Planning recommended approval; ANC 2B supported it (8-0-0). Motion passed 3-0-2. Michelle Schelling recorded: “Staff records the vote 3 to 0 to 2.”
- Z.C. Case No. 80-07F (Georgetown University, Square 563 Lot 16): Approved a modification without a hearing to permit upper-story signage and ongoing flexibility to modify that signage over the life of the building, with the understanding the applicant and ANC would finalize lighting hours (applicant agreed to limit lighting, roughly to about 10 p.m.). Office of Planning recommended approval; motion passed 3-0-2.
- Z.C. Case No. 24-18 (Living Classrooms Foundation, text amendment, Square 771): The commission took final action to adopt the text amendment as published in the D.C. Register; NCPC reviewed the amendments and found them not inconsistent with the National Capital Planning Commission’s policies. Motion to approve final action passed 3-0-2.
- Z.C. Case No. 14-18D (Mid City Financial Corp. / Brooklyn Manor): Approved a two-year PUD time extension and granted a waiver (Subtitle Z §705.5) because the applicant requested a second two-year extension though the regulation normally limits a second extension to one year. Office of Planning supported the extension and waiver; motion passed 3-0-2.
- Z.C. Case No. 22-39A (BD Parcel 2, LLC, Square 5861 Lot 92): Approved a two-year time-extension request and the related waiver; Office of Planning recommended approval and no party filed opposition within the notice period. Motion passed 3-0-2.
Procedure and next steps
For several of the items the commission asked applicants to provide draft summary orders (where appropriate) for OZLD review. The Office of Zoning staff, Michelle Schelling, confirmed staff would prepare summary orders and post documents to the record. Where applicants requested waivers from Subtitle Z provisions, the commission approved the waivers on the record.
Authorities and procedural references
Office of Planning recommendations, ANC reports (where submitted), Zoning Commission orders cited in each case and Subtitle Z §705.5 (waiver) were the legal or administrative references used during deliberations. For items granted as modification without hearing, the commission noted the record contained OP reports and ANC support where applicable.
Ending
The commission handled this cluster of procedural approvals with limited deliberation and no recorded objections. Members said the approvals reflected current market conditions that have delayed development and justified extensions; the absent commissioners (Stidham and Imamura) were noted as not present, not voting.
