DC's Alley Lots Are About to Open Up for Housing

• June 2nd

by UrbanTurf Staff

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Nearly 2,000 alley lots in DC are about to get a lot easier to build on as a sweeping set of zoning changes are on the verge of being approved. 

In about a week, the Zoning Commission is expected to take final rulemaking action on the most significant update to alley lot regulations in six years, wrapping up a process that drew over 200 letters of support and included 15 community meetings over more than a year. 

The centerpiece of the proposal is opening up residential development on alley lots in R-1 and R-2 zones, which had previously been restricted to non-residential uses such as parking and storage. The Office of Planning estimates that around 511 vacant alley lots meet the minimum size threshold of 450 square feet and could realistically see new homes built under the amended rules. On the development standards side, the matter-of-right building height for alley structures would increase from 20 feet to 25 feet, parking requirements would be eliminated for most alley lot uses, and a second unit would be permitted on lots meeting minimum area thresholds.

One closely watched issue during the process was alley width. The Office of Planning had originally proposed dropping the minimum subdivision width from 24 feet to 15 feet, but the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department pushed back, citing concerns about emergency vehicle access in narrower alleys. The Commission sided with FEMS, retaining the 24-foot matter-of-right standard while creating a new special exception pathway for narrower alleys.

The Commission voted 5-0 in March to publish the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. If the June vote goes as expected, the rules would typically take effect within a few weeks of final action.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dcs_alley_lots_are_about_to_open_up_for_housing/24689.