DC Zoning Review Low/Moderate Density Residential Working Group

1. DC Zoning Review Low/Moderate Density Residential Working Group DC Office of Planning Meeting 1 March 24, 2008

2. Zoning Review Process • OP Goals for Zoning Review: • Clarity • Relevance • Ease of use

3. 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

4. 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

5. Zoning Review Process Public input at all levels

6. Zoning Review Process Subject Areas • 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

7. 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.

8. Zoning Review Website: www.dczoningupdate.org

9. Comprehensive Plan & Zoning Relationship

10. Zoning and Residential Neighborhoods Comprehensive Plan & Zoning Relationship

11. Zoning and Residential Neighborhoods Zoning Regulation Elements

12. Zoning and Residential Neighborhoods

13. The Comprehensive Plan: Background What does the Comprehensive Plan say about residential neighborhoods?

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning How are the existing zoning regulations consistent – or not – with the Comprehensive Plan?

18. 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.

19. The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Are the existing zoning regulations consistent with the form of our low- and moderate-density neighborhoods?

20. The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning • Is R-1-B doing a good job of protecting neighborhood character on this street?

21. The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning • Is this the kind of new addition we want to promote?

22. 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?

23. The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning • How do we create and preserve attractive, healthy, and diverse residential neighborhoods?

24. The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning “We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them” - Attributed to Albert Einstein

25. Discussion: • Introduction of participants • What do you think of when you hear the word…Zoning? • Why are you here?

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

27. Questions?

28. Travis Parker, AICP (202) 741-5243 Travis.Parker@dc.gov Contact Laine Cidlowski, LEED AP (202) 741-0817 Laine.Cidlowski@dc.gov Dan Emerine (202) 442-8812 Dan.Emerine@dc.gov Michael Giulioni (202) 442-8813 Michael.Giulioni@dc.gov Website: www.dczoningupdate.org Stephen Varga, AICP (202) 741-5244 Stephen.Varga@dc.gov