DC Zoning Review Historic Structures Working Group DC Office of Planning Meeting 1 March 13, 2008.

DC Zoning Review

Historic Structures Working Group

DC Office of Planning

Meeting 1March 13, 2008

Background:

Historical preservation procedure

The Zoning Regulations do not address issues related to historic preservation in any one chapter or zone district.

Historic preservation is enforced through the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), aided by the technical expertise of the Historic Preservation Office (HPO) within the Office of Planning. The District has in excess of 25,000 historic properties and 27 historic neighborhoods, and it is only these properties that fall within the jurisdiction of the HPRB.

The zoning for these properties, including use, bulk regulations, and parking and loading requirements, is controlled by the Zoning Regulations. With the exception of use, implementation of these zoning provisions may be modified by the HPRB, although not always in conformance with the Zoning Regulations, requiring further relief from the Board of Zoning Adjustment.

Purpose of the Historic Structures Working Group

The goal of the Office of Planning and the Zoning Review Task Force is to make the Zoning Regulations more “user friendly” and preservation-oriented, as needed, to ensure that the goals and guidelines of the HPRB and HPO are more easily attained.

Comprehensive Plan

Issues Summary

• Create standards for density bonuses in historic districts (Policy H-1.2.7)

• Give full consideration to preservation concerns in applications for planned unit developments. (Policy HP-2.2.2)

• Integrate historic preservation into the preparation and review of proposed campus master plans, appropriate planned unit development and special exception applications and other major development initiatives that may have an impact on historic preservation. (Action HP-2.2.B)

• The Historic Preservation Office and preservation groups should be involved in meetings to discuss relevant issues relating to zoning. (Action HP-2.2.C)

• Within Historic Districts preserve the established form of development as evidenced by lot coverage and yard requirements. (Policy HP-2.4.3)

• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing transfer of development rights (TDR) programs, and consider revisions to enhance their utility for preservations. (Action HP-3.1.B)

Zoning Regulations

Issues Summary

• Courts for historic structures (§ 406)

• Side Yards for historic structures (§ 405)

• Lot occupancy for historic structures (§ 403.2)

• Examine off-street parking and loading requirements in historic districts. (§ 2100.5, § 2200.5)

• “Conversions to apartment house” within the R-4 Zone District and a historic district. (§ 401.3)

Zoning Regulations

Issues Summary

Courts (§ 406)

Courts Diagram

Zoning Regulations

Issues Summary

Lot occupancyfor historicstructures (§403.2)

Side Yards for historic structures (§ 405)

Zoning Regulations

Issues Summary

• Examine off-street parking and loading requirements in historic districts. (§ 2100.5, § 2200.5)

• Section 2120

Previously approved structures

Previously approved structures

Previously approved structures

Zoning Regulations

Issues Summary

• “Conversions to apartment house” within the R-4 District. (§ 401.3)

Flat:

2 units in 1 building

R-4 Conversions:

•1 unit per 900 sq ft. of lot area

Other Issues

“Buffer Zones” and Conservation Districts

Another tool used by some jurisdictions is the designation of conservation districts. Conservation districts achieve preservation ends at a neighborhood scale without some of the perceived burdens of a traditional historic district. Conservation districts are typically established in lieu of - rather than in addition to - historic districts to protect special historic, architectural or cultural character.

Some jurisdictions have created “buffer zones” around historic districts to protect the edges of those historic districts from inappropriate intrusions such as cell phone towers and antennas, or other visual intrusions.

Buffer zones

Conservation Districts

ContactStephen Mordfin, AICP(202) 442-8810 [email protected]

Website:

www.dczoningupdate.org

Stephen Varga, AICP(202) [email protected]

Steve Callcott(202) [email protected]