Zoning Commission approves Cedar Tree Academy modification, citing design, operations and agency support

The D.C. Zoning Commission approved a modification to the design review for Cedar Tree Academy Public Charter School (Z.C. Case No. 24-23A) at 701 Howard Road SE on Feb. 5, 2026, voting 5-0 in favor of the applicant’s revised plan and related zoning relief.

Applicant counsel Eric Debert told the commission the modified project retains the existing school building and adds a rear addition intended to deliver the same educational program the commission previously approved, including 32 classrooms, a cafeteria, gymnasium, library and parent center. “The school is excited that we are able to achieve the same programming as the original project that the commission reviewed and approved,” Debert said.

The Office of Planning recommended approval after reviewing the application against Subtitle K and Subtitle X design-review criteria, and the District Department of Transportation said it had no objection provided the applicant implements its Transportation Demand Management plan. Noah Hagen of DDOT said in testimony that DDOT “recommended approval with 1 condition, which is implementation of the applicant's transportation demand management plan.” ANC 8A’s letter in the record conveyed unanimous support for the modification.

Architect Luis Boza described a revised site plan that preserves the existing building and locates a perpendicular rear addition to reuse existing parking and open space. Boza said the design includes a ramp and stair tower for 500-year floodplain egress, a three-story public entry for gym and cafeteria use, and materials intended to link the addition to the school’s identity. On solar panels he said, “We're currently assessing the structural capacity of that roof to hold those solar panels. It's a possibility that we will relocate those to the roof of the addition over the gymnasium, but we're currently determining that at this time.”

Symmetra Design principal Nicole White presented the pickup and drop-off plan and described minor operational changes from the approved plan: on-site queuing capacity would fall from 24 vehicles to 20, and the team expects that at full enrollment “2 vehicles would need to queue along Howard Road in the designated pickup drop off zone.” The applicant agreed to coordinate with DDOT on public-space permitting and to implement a TDM plan as a condition of approval.

Councillors and commissioners who reviewed the application praised the design adjustments and asked detailed follow-up questions on solar location, acoustics for the property’s highway-facing rear elevation, potential to increase the Green Area Ratio, and additional tree plantings in the parking area. Boza said the project retained more green area than the previously approved plan by avoiding redevelopment of the eastern portion of the site and that the design team will follow up on acoustic wall/window composition to mitigate highway noise.

During deliberations Commissioner Imamura moved to approve the case and the motion was seconded on the record. Office of Zoning staff conducted a roll call vote: Imamura — Yes; Wright — Yes; Hood — Yes; Miller — Yes; Sinem — Yes. The commission recorded final action as approved 5-0-0. Chair Anthony Hood asked legal staff to prepare a draft order to formalize the decision.

Next steps for the project include the preparation of a draft zoning order by legal counsel and coordination between the applicant and DDOT on public-space permitting and the TDM performance-monitoring plan, which the applicant plans to begin in fall 2028. The hearing record contains exhibits from OP, DDOT, ANC 8A and letters of support from neighbors and stakeholders.

(Reporting based only on the public hearing transcript and exhibits introduced into the record.)