DC Zoning Review Low/Moderate Density Residential Working Group DC Office of Planning Meeting 1...

DC Zoning Review

Low/Moderate Density Residential Working Group

DC Office of Planning

Meeting 1March 24, 2008

Zoning Review Process

OP Goals for Zoning Review:

Clarity

Relevance

Ease of use

Zoning Review Process

Zoning Review Taskforce

•Provide guidance on the organization and execution of the review process

•Provide OP with technical review of the policies and draft language proposals that result from each working group

Zoning Review Process

Working Groups

•Issues separated into 20 study areas

•Each study area will have a working group

•Will meet for 1-4 months to refine policy and draft language

•Will be open to public

Zoning Review Process

ZoningCommission

Office of Planning

Working Groups Task Force

Publicinputat alllevels

Zoning Review Process

8 Policy•Floodplain•Height•Parking•Loading•Arts & Culture•Retail•Historic Structures•Sustainability

8 Land Use•Low/Mod Density – Res.•Med/High Density – Res. & Comm.•Downtown•Commercial Corridors•Industrial•Mixed/Other•Campus/Institutional•Parks/Open Space

4 Procedural•Planned Unit Development•Design Review•Administration/Enforcement•ZC & BZA Procedures

Subject Areas

Goals of Working Group

• Identification of problems with the current regulations. Determine how what we have now is not working.

• Identification of what works with current regulations. Identify what currently works with the regulations.

• Identification of gaps with current regulations. Determine what is missing in the current regulations.

• Determine means by which problems and gaps and Comprehensive Plan Action Items can be achieved.

Zoning Review Website:

www.dczoningupdate.org

Comprehensive Plan & Zoning Relationship

Zoning and Residential Neighborhoods Comprehensive Plan & Zoning Relationship

Zoning and Residential Neighborhoods Zoning Regulation Elements

Zoning and Residential Neighborhoods

The Comprehensive Plan:

Background

What does the Comprehensive Plan say about residential

neighborhoods?

Comprehensive Plan

Issues Summary – Low/Moderate Residential

• Building Form and Neighborhood Character• Examine the creation of residential zones more appropriate to existing

or desired densities. • Protect existing architectural character and scale of low density

neighborhoods.• Protect the existing natural character of neighborhoods. • Encourage compatible infill/discourage teardown.

Comprehensive Plan

Issues Summary – Low/Moderate Residential

• Allowable Uses• Define and set limits for compatible neighborhood commercial uses

Define and set limits for compatible institutional uses • Define and set limits for home occupations• Define and set limits for compatible diplomatic uses • Define and set limits for compatible CBRFs

Comprehensive Plan

Issues Summary – Low/Moderate Residential

• Administrative and Policy Issues• Explore changes to allow accessory apartments & shared housing• Prevent creation of flag lots and other unusually shaped lots• Avoid regulations that would prevent affordable housing

How are the existing zoning regulations consistent – or not – with the Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning

Examples• § 405.3 (Sideyard requirement applied to rowhouses): consistent with Policy

LU-2.1.7: Conservation of Row House Neighborhoods?• § 203, 204, 301, 321, 331 (Home Occupations, Accessory Buildings):

consistent with the following?: • Policy H-1.5-B: Changes to the Zoning Regulations: Explore

changes which would facilitate development of accessory apartments, English basements, and single room occupancy housing units).

• Policy LU-2.3.11: Home Occupations: Maintain appropriate regulations (including licensing requirements) to address the growing trend toward home occupations, accommodating such uses but ensuring that they do not negatively impact residential neighborhoods.

The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning

Are the existing zoning regulations consistent with the form of our

low- and moderate-density neighborhoods?

The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning

• Is R-1-B doing a good job of protecting neighborhood character on this street?

The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning

• Is this the kind of new addition we want to promote?

The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning

• R-4 district currently makes lot sizes of less than 18 feet in width nonconforming.

• Could we build this historic neighborhood today under R-4 zoning?

The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning

• How do we create and preserve attractive, healthy, and diverse residential neighborhoods?

The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning

“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used

when we created them”

The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning

- Attributed to Albert Einstein

• Introduction of participants

• What do you think of when you hear the word…Zoning?

• Why are you here?

Discussion:

Future Meetings• March 31• April 21• May 5• May 12• May 19• June 2• June 9• June 16 – Final Meeting

Next Steps

Questions?

Contact

Travis Parker, AICP(202) 741-5243 Travis.Parker@dc.gov

Website:

www.dczoningupdate.org

Dan Emerine(202) 442-8812Dan.Emerine@dc.gov

Michael Giulioni(202) 442-8813Michael.Giulioni@dc.govStephen Varga, AICP(202) 741-5244Stephen.Varga@dc.gov

Laine Cidlowski, LEED AP(202) 741-0817 Laine.Cidlowski@dc.gov