Section 11-K515. BALLPARK DISTRICT (CG)

515.1 The sub-area use regulations are as follows:

(a) A Ballpark may be constructed and operated within Squares 702, 703, 704, 705, and 706 and Reservation 247 (the “Ballpark Site”), bounded by N Street, S.E., First Street, S.E., Potomac Avenue, S.E., and South Capitol, Street S.E.;

(b) For the purposes of this section, the term "Ballpark" means a stadium or arena, including accessory buildings or structures (including, but not limited to office and transportation facilities) that has as its primary purpose the hosting of professional athletic team events;

(c) The Ballpark may also be used to host events customarily held in such facilities including, but not limited to performances, amateur sporting events, municipal functions, and public or private ceremonies.;

(d) Notwithstanding other provisions for residential or mixed uses in this chapter, no portion of the density need be used for residential purposes within the Ballpark Site; 

(e) A maximum of one thousand two hundred twenty-five (1,225) vehicular parking spaces shall be provided for the Ballpark use within the Ballpark Site, in addition to bus parking requirements of Subtitle K § 515.3(d). Of this number, a minimum of one hundred twenty-five (125) shall be designated handicapped parking spaces. Any parking spaces in addition to the one thousand two hundred twenty-five (1,225) amount shall be permitted if approved by the Zoning Commission pursuant to Subtitle K § 515.4 subject to the applicant demonstrating:

(1) That the parking spaces are needed to satisfy parking demand generated by the Ballpark not met by existing or approved but not yet constructed parking facilities; and

(2) Compliance with the provisions of Subtitle K § 515.4;

(f) In considering whether to approve additional ballpark-related at or above-ground parking spaces under Subtitle K § 515.1(e), the Zoning Commission shall judge, balance, and reconcile the need for additional on-site parking against any adverse impacts the presence of the parking will have on traffic, and the aesthetics and development of the surrounding neighborhood; and

(g) All parking spaces within the Ballpark Site shall be provided underground. At or above grade parking spaces shall be permitted if approved by the Zoning Commission pursuant to Subtitle K § 515.4; subject to the applicant demonstrating:

(1) Practical difficulty with the provision of underground parking; and

(2) Compliance with the provisions of Subtitle K § 515.4. 

515.2 The prefered use regulations are as follows:

(a) Preferred uses of this section shall include one (1) or more of the following use categories:

(1) Retail;

(2) Entertainment, assembly, and performing arts;

(3) Eating and drinking establishments;

(4) Animal sales, care, and boarding;

(5) Arts, design, and creation; and

(6) Services, general or financial;

(b) Not less than twenty percent (20%) of the Ballpark building's exterior perimeter frontage, not including any detached accessory building, shall be devoted to preferred uses of Subtitle K § 515.2(a) in accordance with the provisions of the following provisions:

(1) Preferred uses shall have a street orientation;

(2) Preferred uses shall provide direct exterior access at ground level;

(3) Not less than fifty percent (50%) of area devoted to preferred uses shall be devoted to display windows having clear or low-emissivity;

(4) The minimum floor to ceiling height of area devoted to preferred uses shall be fourteen feet (14 ft.) clear; and

(5) The average depth from the exterior facade in towards the center of the building for space devoted to preferred retail shall be fifty feet (50 ft.) minimum; and

(c) The Zoning Commission may grant relief to a maximum of fifty percent (50%) of the amount of space required by Subtitle K § 515.2(b) if necessary for the economic viability of the Ballpark and if consistent with the purposes of the Capital Gateway zones as stated in Subtitle K § 500.1 and the provisions of Subtitle K § 524.4.

515.3 The design regulations are as follows:

(a) The Ballpark's maximum permitted height shall be that permitted by the Height Act, as amended. For the purposes of determining height for a Ballpark, height shall mean the vertical distance measured from the level of the curb opposite the middle of the front of the building to the highest point of the building, including a scoreboard, roof, cantilevered sunscreen, or parapet; 

(b) Each building or structure located on the portion of South Capitol Street that lies within the Ballpark Site shall be set back for its entire height and frontage not less than fifteen feet (15 ft.), provided that a minimum of sixty percent (60%) of the street-wall shall be constructed on the setback line;

(c) In addition to the streetwall setbacks of Subtitle K § 515.3(b), any portion of the Ballpark that exceeds one hundred ten feet (110 ft.) in height shall provide an additional one-to-one (1:1) step back from the building line along South Capitol Street;

(d) Any on-site bus parking shall be located internal to a building, with doors and entranceways designed to complement the building facade, and shall permit safe and convenient vehicular and pedestrian movement. The Zoning Commission may grant relief from this requirement pursuant to Subtitle K § 515.4 if necessary to the economic viability of the Ballpark and if consistent with the purposes of the Capital Gateway as stated in Subtitle K § 500.1 and the provisions of Subtitle K § 515.4;

(e) Loading platforms and berths for the Ballpark shall be located internal to a building, with doors and entranceways designed to complement the building facade, and shall permit safe and convenient vehicular and pedestrian movement;

(f) A minimum of one (1) pedestrian entrance gate to the Ballpark shall be provided on each street frontage; and

(g) No private driveway may be constructed or used from South Capitol Street to any parking or loading berth areas in or adjacent to a building or structure constructed after November 4, 2005.

515.4 The Ballpark and all other proposed buildings or structures within the Ballpark Site shall be subject to the approval of the Zoning Commission in accordance with the following provisions:

(a) An applicant requesting approval under this section shall prove that the proposed building or structure, including the siting, architectural design, site plan, landscaping, sidewalk treatment, and operation, will minimize potential impacts to the neighborhood and the United States Capitol by:

(1) Minimizing associated noise, particularly into adjacent residential neighborhoods;

(2) Minimizing light spill, particularly into adjacent residential neighborhoods;

(3) Minimizing parking and traffic conflict between Ballpark patrons and neighborhood residents;

(4) Encouraging the use of bicycles through the provision of safe, secure and convenient bike storage, as well as other forms of alternative transportation to the site;

(5) Minimizing conflict between vehicles and pedestrians;

(6) Encouraging the design and development of properties in a manner that is sensitive to the establishment of South Capitol Street as a monumental civic boulevard, while recognizing the proximate residential neighborhood use and context;

(7) Being in context with the surrounding neighborhood and street patterns;

(8) Providing view analysis which assesses openness of views and vistas around the Ballpark, including views toward the Capitol Dome, other federal monumental buildings, and the waterfront, from the surrounding neighborhood and neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River, South Capitol Street, the Frederick Douglas Bridge, and the waterfront;

(9) Providing for safe and convenient movement to and through the site, including to public transit and to the Anacostia River; and

(10) Ensuring that signage on the exterior of building or internal to the ballpark structure but visible from the outside, including the scoreboard, will not have such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair the vision of any driver, or otherwise interfere with the driver's operation of a motor vehicle; adversely impact an owner's enjoyment of residential property located proximate to the ballpark; or impact the character and integrity of the ballpark site;

(b) In addition to the required provisions of Subtitle K § 515.4(a), an applicant requesting approval under this section shall also demonstrate that the proposed building or structure, including the siting, architectural design, site plan, landscaping, sidewalk treatment, and operation will:

(1) Help achieve the objectives of the Capital Gateway as set forth in Subtitle K § 500.1;

(2) Be of a superior quality;

(3) Encourage safe and active streetscapes through building articulation, landscaping, and the provision of active ground level uses including retail, entertainment, cultural, and pedestrian concourse space;

(4) Minimize unarticulated blank walls adjacent to public spaces through facade articulation; and

(5) Promote the use of best practice environmental design, including minimizing potential impacts on the Anacostia River through stormwater management and recycling practices;

(c) The Zoning Commission may impose requirements pertaining to building or structure design, appearance, landscaping, signage, lighting, and other such requirements, as it deems necessary to protect neighboring property and to achieve the purposes of the Capitol Gateway zones;

(d) The Zoning Commission may hear and decide any additional requests for relief from Zoning Regulations for the subject site. Such requests may be advertised, heard, and decided together with the application for Zoning Commission review and approval;

(e) At the time of filing an application with the Zoning Commission, the applicant shall pay the filing fee specified in Subtitle Z plus such fees as apply to any additional zoning relief requested; and 

(f) At any time after the application is filed, but no later than thirty (30) days prior to the hearing date, at the request of one (1) or more Zoning Commission member(s), the Zoning Commission may, at a regular or special public meeting, offer preliminary comment on the design presented. Written notice of the Zoning Commission's intent to offer preliminary comment shall be provided to the Applicant, the ANC within which the project is located, and the Office of Planning. The Office Planning may participate at the meeting only through responding to the Zoning Commission's questions and offering solutions to any concerns expressed.

 

 

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).