Permits Will Keep Printing Until Pop-Up Plan is Finalized

• August 21, 2014

by Lark Turner

1310 Q Street NW

Despite an ANC committee member’s report to the contrary, developments in the District aren’t being held up because of a proposed rule that would affect additions, including pop-ups, in residential zones.

The Office of Planning’s Jennifer Steingasser told UrbanTurf on Wednesday that the issuing of permits for new residential projects hadn’t been affected by the proposed rule, at least not yet. If it is approved by the Zoning Commission, it would likely affect development in the city’s R-4 districts dramatically.

UrbanTurf previously reported that a new development planned at 1310 Q Street NW (map) was being delayed because of the rule. That information, from an ANC 2F development committee member, was incorrect.

The developers of the property on Q Street “are full steam ahead,” according to Kimberly Casey, an associate broker with Washington Fine Properties.

In addition to explicitly limiting how high development in residential districts can go, the rule change also targets any conversion of a single-family home in an R-4 district. The Office of Planning recommended only allowing conversion of non-residential buildings to “apartment houses” in the R-4 district under very particular conditions that are more onerous than current standards.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/permits_will_keep_printing_until_pop-up_plan_is_finalized/8902