Last month DC’s Office of Planning sent each ANC a summary of the proposed revisions to the zoning code that would affect that particular ANC. Click here (pdf) for the summary for ANC 4B and here (pdf) for ANC 5A.
The summaries are helpful in focusing what seems to be a mammoth undertaking and explaining the pertinent changes. For this area, there are changes that will reduce parking minimum requirements for new construction within 0.5 miles of the metro station and encourage various means of transportation.
There would be new buffer requirements for industrial zones from residential zones. For this community, this mainly affects areas close to the rail lines by Fort Totten station, around 2nd Street NE, and around Chillum Place NE. There would be new limitations on non-industrial uses (e.g., nightclub, emergency shelter, and waste related services). The Fort Totten Overlay provisions of the current code would be carried over into the new code. The Office of Planning noted the Ward 5 Industrial Land Transformation Task Force might propose additional recommendations.
It is plausible that a few areas could have accessory apartments.
On March 11, 2014, the Office of Planning is hosting an open house on the proposed revision at the Petworth Library (4200 Kansas Avenue NW) from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 