Transcript Slide 1
DC Zoning Review
Historic Structures Working Group
DC Office of Planning
Meeting 1
March 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
Side Yards for
historic
structures
(§ 405)
Lot occupancy
for historic
structures
(§403.2)
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
Buffer zones
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.
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.
Contact
Stephen Mordfin, AICP
(202) 442-8810
[email protected]
Stephen Varga, AICP
(202) 741-5244
[email protected]
Steve Callcott
(202) 442-8846
[email protected]
Website:
www.dczoningupdate.org