The Change That Could Lead To More Alley Homes In DC Will Be Delayed A Bit

• November 3rd

by UrbanTurf Staff

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A zoning change that could result in more alley homes around DC will not be taken up by the Zoning Commission until next year.  

Back in May, zoning text amendments were proposed with the aim of making it easier to build in alleys around DC. Specifically, the changes would allow residential development on alley lots in R-1 and R-2 zones, and allow a second residential unit to be built within an alley lot building based on the lot size.

The amendments also call for reducing the maximum lot occupancy for alley lots in R-1 and R-2 zones, and increasing yard requirements for those lots in the R-1 zone. DC's Office of Planning estimates that around 500 vacant alley lots around the city could permit residential development under the change.

The changes were originally supposed to go in front of the Zoning Commission this month, but the meeting has now been postponed until January.

The amendments are a follow-up or sorts for measures that were unanimously approved six years ago which were focused on spurring more alley dwellings to be built in DC. And there appears to be a great deal of support from DC residents for the new measures. 

In the zoning filing, there are over 150 letters of support for the proposed change and only one in opposition. It is quite rare for a zoning amendment in the city to see such overwhelming support.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_plan_for_more_alley_homes_in_dc_will_be_delayed_a_bit/24029.