Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
BZA approves corner‑store conversion and seasonal outdoor patio at Capitol Hill site, with trash‑screening and hours conditions
Loading...
Summary
The Board of Zoning Adjustment on Jan. 28 approved DellaBarba Company’s application to operate a corner‑store/restaurant with a seasonal outdoor patio at 1382 E Capitol St NE, imposing conditions on hours (07:30–22:00), no outdoor music and screened trash storage subject to public‑space approval. ANC 6A and the Office of Planning supported the proposal.
The District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment voted 3–0–2 on Jan. 28 to grant DellaBarba Company special‑exception approval to operate a corner store/restaurant with seasonal outdoor seating at 1382 East Capitol Street NE.
Chair Carl Blake opened the board’s deliberation after hearing a detailed presentation from applicant counsel Anthony Rochelle and the project architect. Rochelle told the board the proposal keeps first‑floor commercial use and continues residential use on the second floor, adds a screened public‑space patio and uses commercial trash containers with a screened public‑space enclosure rather than leaving uncovered bins on the sidewalk. “We believe that we have satisfied all the conditions for the application for a special exception,” Rochelle said during the hearing.
Why it matters: the property currently operates as a longstanding ground‑floor food business and the requested relief (a corner‑store special exception under Subtitle U §254.14) would authorize structured, seasonal outdoor dining and limited on‑site alcohol consumption while keeping the building’s commercial footprint intact. ANC 6A submitted a unanimous letter of support and the Office of Planning offered oral support during the hearing.
What the board decided: the approval carries three conditions: hours of operation limited to 07:30–22:00; no amplified outdoor music; and installation of a screened trash enclosure as shown in the applicant’s architectural exhibits, with the final public‑space configuration subject to District Public Space Committee approval. Chair Blake said frequent trash pickup and a screened enclosure were central to mitigating neighborhood impacts, and Vice Chair Miller and board members noted the applicant had worked with ANC 6A and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society to refine the design.
Key details in the record: the applicant described a seasonal outdoor program (presentations showed up to roughly 74 outdoor seats arranged in clusters), a small existing interior seating area (the interior was described as roughly 8 seats), and a plan to increase trash pickup frequency during busy periods. DDOT reported no objection to the seating design but flagged concerns about storing trash in public space without the public‑space permit; the applicant said the BZA approval would enable a subsequent public‑space permit application.
Next steps: the board’s approval is conditioned on subsequent public‑space committee approval of the screened trash enclosure and any permits the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration would require for on‑site alcohol. The board’s order will memorialize the conditions and the site’s permitted hours and operational limitations.
