Zoning commission takes proposed action to advance 44‑unit all‑affordable project at 2384 Champlain St NW

The Zoning Commission on May 21, 2026, voted 4–0–1 on proposed action to advance Z.C. Case No. 25‑18, a consolidated planned unit development and map amendment for 2384 Champlain Street NW, clearing the way for a five‑story, approximately 28,700‑square‑foot building that would deliver 44 affordable housing units.

Jeff UPS, counsel for applicant Champlain Street Partners LLC, told the commission the proposal would preserve 32 existing affordable micro‑units and add 12 new units, producing “approximately 44 units of affordable housing for households earning between 30 and 80% MFI” in the presentation (the applicant later confirmed the range is 30–60% MFI in the record). The project would include four at‑grade parking spaces, a roughly 1,000‑square‑foot rooftop solar array, and is designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities standards with the goal of near net‑zero energy performance.

The applicant requested flexibility from several zoning requirements, including a waiver of the PUD minimum land area (the site contains roughly 7,348 square feet versus the 15,000‑square‑foot RA3 minimum), relief on lot‑occupancy and closed‑court rules, and a reduction of the current 13‑space parking requirement to three on‑site spaces. Transportation testimony from the project team and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) emphasized the site’s transit access and a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan; DDOT stated no objection to approval if the TDM plan is implemented.

Office of Planning staff recommended approval, saying the proposal is “not inconsistent with the comprehensive plan,” noting the applicant revised the unit distribution and added a compact loading space in response to agency comments. OP and the applicant both pointed to block‑level density analysis and design measures as balancing the requested flexibility.

Commissioners’ questions focused on tenant relocation and right‑to‑return, pedestrian safety during phased construction, material substitutions on non‑public facades, and the applicant’s ambition for net‑zero performance. Neil Matraa, the applicant’s representative, described ongoing coordination with the tenants association and DHCD financing processes and said the team has a tenant relocation plan and will provide further documentation, including a signature page from the tenant development agreement before final action. Charles Warren, the project architect, described façade strategies and explained why the team seeks limited material flexibility on courtyard and party‑wall elevations to address construction logistics and structural considerations.

A neighbor, Shelby Dwir, testified in public comment about existing sidewalk and open‑pit conditions on Champlain Street related to other nearby construction that have caused flooding and limited sidewalk access, and asked the applicant and agencies to prioritize pedestrian safety. The applicant agreed to follow up and to coordinate Traffic Control Plans (TCPs) and outreach with neighbors and agencies.

At the close of the hearing, Commissioner Imamora moved proposed action to approve the consolidated PUD and related map amendment (including the waiver of the PUD minimum land area); Commissioner Wright seconded. A roll‑call vote recorded four yes votes (Imamora/Iamora, Wright, Hood and Miller); Commissioner Sidham was not present and did not vote.

Votes at a glance: • Motion to hold an executive session (May 28) to receive legal advice on contested cases: approved 4–0–1 (Commissioner Sidham not present). (Preliminary matter recorded earlier in the hearing.) • Proposed action on Z.C. Case No. 25‑18 (Champlain Street Partners LLC): approved for proposed action 4–0–1; motion by Commissioner Imamora, seconded by Commissioner Wright. The order will include DDOT’s TDM condition and the applicant will submit outstanding materials before final action.

Next steps: the applicant agreed to submit outstanding documentation (tenant‑agreement signature page, finalized relocation/portability documentation and any outstanding exhibits) before the commission considers final action; DDOT and the applicant will continue to coordinate public‑space and TDM implementation. The commission announced its next meeting for May 28.