Zoning Commission approves rezoning for 4347 Hunt Place NE, declines IZ Plus

The District of Columbia Zoning Commission voted 5-0 on April 6 to approve Z.C. Case 25-14, a map amendment to rezone 4347 Hunt Place Northeast (Square 594, Lot 103) from MU-3A to MU-8B, with a friendly amendment that IZ Plus not apply.

At the hearing, Mr. Solomon, who presented for the applicant, told the commission the change would align the zoning map with the Future Land Use Map and recent comprehensive-plan updates and would support neighborhood-serving commercial development along the Nannie Helen Burroughs corridor. "We were very proud to have the support of ANC 7C and the work with them and to be able to revise the application according to their concerns," he said, and added that "there's currently no development planned" but the owner seeks to make the map consistent with the comprehensive plan.

The Office of Planning recommended approval. Crystal Myers of the Office of Planning said, "the Office of Planning recommends approval of this map amendment" and noted OP "does not recommend applying IZ Plus in this case" because the Far Northeast and Southeast Planning Area already contains a substantial number of dedicated affordable units. Myers also told commissioners that the site lies in a resilience-designated area (a 100-year flood plain) and that any redevelopment would be required to meet DOEE resilience, stormwater, flood-plain, and green-building design requirements.

The applicant described the zoning change in technical terms: MU-3A has a total FAR of about 1.0 (1.2 with IZ), while MU-8B permits up to a 5.0 total FAR (6.0 with IZ), allows up to 4.0 FAR for non-residential uses, removes a specific lot-occupancy cap (current occupancy ~60%), and raises the height limit from about 40 feet to roughly 70 feet. The presenter said MU-8B would create a regulatory framework that could deliver retail, services and job-generating uses if market conditions and developer plans support that outcome.

Commissioners asked questions about resilience and expected uses. Commissioner Wright said she supported the rezoning but stressed that being in a 100-year flood plain "is a significant issue" and asked how future development would comply with floodplain and resilient-design requirements. Mr. Solomon acknowledged that such designation "does add additional engineering costs and some design choices ... but doesn't preclude full development of the property." Commissioners also noted that MU-8B permits either predominantly commercial or predominantly residential projects and does not mandate a specific mix of uses; the zone therefore increases the potential for commercial development but does not guarantee it.

ANC 7C formally submitted a letter supporting the map amendment (exhibit 25). SMD Commissioner Brown raised concerns about the current condition of the property while it awaits development, saying the fencing is down and the parcel "has become a dumping ground again"; Mr. Solomon responded that the principal, Brian Athe, is a local resident and would be available to address maintenance complaints.

DDOT filed a report stating it has no objection to the requested map amendment. Office of Planning testimony referenced the 2024 Nannie Helen Burroughs small area plan and the district's comprehensive-plan guidance in concluding the MU-8B designation is consistent with the site's FLUM and policy-map designations.

Votes at a glance - Rezoning approval (Z.C. Case 25-14): motion by Commissioner Wright; second accepted a friendly amendment that IZ Plus not apply; roll call vote 5-0-0 — outcome: approved for proposed action. - Preliminary motion to hold an executive (closed) session on April 9 at 3:15 p.m.: roll call vote 5-0-0 — outcome: approved.

What happens next: The commission closed the record and moved to deliberation; no final development plans were filed at the hearing. Any future development proposal will be separately subject to design, resilience and permitting reviews and to applicable DOEE, DDOT, and building-code requirements.

Reported quotes in this article are drawn verbatim from hearing testimony and attributed to the speakers listed in the article’s speaker roster.