Section 11-K505. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS (CG-5)

505.1 The CG-5 zone is intended to permit medium-density mixed-use development generally in the vicinity of the waterfront; encourage a variety of support and visitor-related uses, such as retail, service, entertainment, cultural and hotel uses; provide for a reduced height and bulk of buildings along the Anacostia River in the interest of ensuring views over and around waterfront buildings; and provide for continuous public open space along the waterfront with frequent public access points.

505.2 The development standards in Subtitle K §§ 505.3 through 505.9 shall control the bulk of buildings in CG-5 zone. 

505.3 The permitted density in the CG-5 zone is as follows:

(a) The maximum permitted FAR in the CG-5 zone shall be 4.0 or 4.8 FAR with IZ, with a maximum non-residential FAR of 2.0;

(b) Non-residential floor area shall be the total gross floor area of the building not dedicated to uses in one (1) of the following categories:

(1) Residential;

(2) Emergency shelter;

(3) Lodging uses; or

(4) Education uses that are operated or chartered by the District Government;

(c) The Zoning Commission may grant bonus density for residential development in a building or a combined lot development, using a guideline of 1.0 FAR in excess of the normally-allowed maximum of 4.0 FAR, provided that:

(1) The building or combined lot development shall include at least 2.0 FAR of residential uses;

(2) The Zoning Commission, at its discretion, may allow construction of such bonus density on the property zoned CG-5 or may allow only for the bonus density to be transferred off-site to a lot or lots zoned CG-4; and

(3) The provisions of Subtitle K § 511 shall govern the procedures for transferring bonus density off-site if permitted by the Zoning Commission;

(d) The Zoning Commission, at its discretion, may also provide for additional on-site or off-site bonus density to be earned for setbacks required under this section, based on the land area of the setback and the proposed features for public open space uses; provided, that 2.0 FAR based on the land area of the open space setback shall be used as a general guideline; and

(e) A building or structure for a local government or parks and recreation use shall have a maximum permitted FAR of 1.8.

505.4 Height requirements for the CG-5 zone are as follows:

(a) The maximum permitted building height, not including the penthouse, in the CG-5 zone shall be sixty feet (60 ft.) and eighty feet (80 ft.) with IZ;

(b) Subtitle K § 510 contains design-related conditions on building height and upper story setbacks for segments of Potomac Avenue, and South Capitol Street, Designated Streets of Subtitle K § 508;

(c) The Zoning Commission, at its discretion, may grant an additional ten feet (10 ft.) of building height in excess of the base amount to accommodate the bonus density provision of Subtitle K § 505.3; and

(d) A building or structure located on, in or over the water; or a watercraft, including a floating home shall have a maximum height of twenty-five feet (25 ft.). For the purposes of this subsection, the maximum height shall be measured from the mean high water level along the shore directly in front of the building, structure or watercraft to the highest point of the building or structure, not including sailboat masts.

505.5 The maximum permitted height of a penthouse in the CG-5 zone shall be twelve feet (12 ft.), except that a height of fifteen feet (15 ft.) shall be permitted for penthouse mechanical space; and the maximum number of stories within the penthouse shall be one (1), except that a second story for penthouse mechanical space shall be permitted.

505.6 No side yard is required for the principal building; however, any side yard provided on any portion of the principal building shall be at least two inches (2 in.) per one foot (1 ft.) of height, and no less than five feet (5 ft.).

505.7 A minimum rear yard of twelve feet (12 ft.) shall be provided for residential use in the CG-5 zone, in accordance with the following conditions:

 

(a)Where a lot abuts an alley, the rear yard may be measured from the center line of the alley to the rear wall of the building or other structure; and

 

(b)Where a lot does not abut an alley, the rear yard shall be measured from the rear lot line to the rear wall of the building or other structure.

505.8 The waterfront setback in the CG-5 zone is as follows:

(a) The waterfront setback shall be provided in accordance with Subtitle C, Chapter 11 for all buildings and structures constructed after January 7, 2005 on any lot that faces or abuts the Anacostia River;

(b) If the Zoning Commission finds that the setback creates an undue economic hardship for the owner of the lot, the Zoning Commission may reduce the depth of the required setback, but shall in no case approve a setback of less than fifty feet (50 ft.) in depth; and 

(c) No private driveway to any parking or loading berth areas in or adjacent to a building or structure constructed after January 7, 2005 shall directly face the waterfront.

505.9 Where an open court is provided, the court shall have the following minimum dimensions:

TABLE K § 505.9:  MINIMUM COURT DIMENSIONS

 

Type of Structure	Minimum Width Open Court	Minimum Width Closed Court	Minimum Area Closed Court
Residential (except hotel):	4 in./ft. of height of court;   10 ft. minimum.	4 in./ft.  of height of court;   15 ft. minimum.	Twice the square of the required width of court dimension; 350 sq. ft. minimum.
Non-Residential and Lodging:	2.5 in./ft. of height of court;   6 ft. minimum.	2.5 in./ft. of height of court;   15 ft. minimum.	Twice the square of the required width of court dimension; 250 sq. ft. minimum.

505.10 In the case of an alteration affecting the amount of light and ventilation required in an existing building in an R, RF, or RA zone by other municipal law or regulation, no legally required window shall be permitted to open onto a court that does not comply with the dimensions given in Subtitle K § 505.8.

505.11 The minimum required GAR for the CG-5 zone shall be 0.3. 

 

505.12 The maximum permitted lot occupancy for residential use in the CG-5 zone shall be seventy-five percent (75%).

 

 

authority

§ 1 of the Zoning Act of 1938, approved June 20, 1938 (52 Stat. 797, as amended; D.C. Official Code § 6-641.01 (2012 Repl.)).

source

Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 3176 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 22 (January 6, 2017); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 6110 (June 30, 2017).