1857373 Zoning Commission Notice of Public Hearing: Case No. 11-22 (Office of Planning - Text amendments to permit group instruction centers or studios as a matter-of-right in the C-1, CR, and W Zone Districts)

ZONING COMMISSION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

 

TIME AND PLACE:           Thursday, March 1, 2012, @ 6:30 p.m.

Jerrily R. Kress Memorial Hearing Room

441 4^th Street, N.W. Suite 220-S

Washington, D.C.  20001

 

FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING:

 

CASE NO. 11-22 (Office of Planning - Text amendments to permit group instruction centers or studios as a matter-of-right in the C-1, CR, and W Zone Districts)

 

THIS CASE IS OF INTEREST TO ALL ANCs

 

The Office of Planning (“OP”), in a report dated November 10, 2011, petitioned the Zoning Commission for the District of Columbia (“Zoning Commission” or “Commission”) for text amendments to the Zoning Regulations to permit dance, exercise, martial arts, music, and yoga studios as matter of right uses in C-1, CR, and W Zone Districts. 

 

At its regular public meeting held November 28, 2011, the Zoning Commission set down this case for a public hearing, but granted flexibility to modify the description of the uses and the manner in which they are defined.  The OP report served as the pre-hearing submittal for the case. 

 

Following the meeting, OP, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Zoning Administrator worked together to clarify how the uses could best be described and defined.  It was agreed that the various uses would be described collectively as “group instruction centers or studios” and that the music and dance studio uses could be subsumed within the term “performing arts”.  The use of the broader term “performing arts” would also allow group acting instruction to be permitted within these zones.  

 

In addition, two conforming amendments are proposed to §§ 602.1(o) and 902.1(o) because  each provision cross references a citation that will change as the result of the alphabetical insertion of “Group Instruction Center or Studio” within §§ 601.1 and 901.1 respectively.

The proposed amendments to the Zoning Regulations, Title 11 DCMR, are as follow:

 

Chapter 1, THE ZONING REGULATIONS, § 199, DEFINITIONS, § 199.1, is amended by inserting the following definition in alphabetical order:

 

Group Instruction Center or Studio: An establishment that principally offers group instruction in the performing arts, the martial arts, physical exercise, or yoga.

 

Chapter 6, MIXED USE (COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL) DISTRICTS, is amended as follows:

 

Section 601, USES AS A MATTER OF RIGHT (CR), § 601.1, is amended by inserting the following new use in alphabetical order:

 

            Group Instruction Center or Studio.

 

Section 602, PROHIBITED USES (CR), § 602.1(o), is amended by striking the citation to 601.1(ee) and inserting a reference to § 601(ff) in its place, so that the provision will read as follows:

 

(o)        Parking lot, except a temporary surface parking lot permitted pursuant to § 601.1(ff);

 

Chapter 7, COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, § 701, USES AS A MATTER OF RIGHT (C-1), § 701.1, is amended by inserting the following new use in alphabetical order:

 

            Group Instruction Center or Studio.

 

Chapter 9, WATERFRONT DISTRICTS, is amended as follows

 

Section 901, USES AS A MATTER OF RIGHT (W), § 901.1, is amended by inserting the following new use in alphabetical order:

 

            Group Instruction Center or Studio.

 

Section 902, PROHIBITED USES (W), § 902.1(o)(1), is amended by striking the citation to § 901.1(dd) and inserting a reference to § 901(ee) in its place, so that the provision will read as follows:

 

(o)        Parking Lot:

 

(1) Except a temporary surface parking lot permitted pursuant to § 901.1(ee); or

 

(2) Other than as permitted by special exception in the W-0 District in § 926;

 

Proposed amendments to the Zoning Regulations of the District of Columbia are authorized pursuant to the Zoning Act of June 20, 1938, (52 Stat. 797), as amended, D.C. Official Code § 6-641.01, et seq.

 

The public hearing on this case will be conducted as a rulemaking in accordance with the provisions of 11 DCMR § 3021.  Pursuant to that section, the Commission will impose time limits on testimony presented to it at the public hearing.

 

All individuals, organizations, or associations wishing to testify in this case should file their intention to testify in writing.  Written statements, in lieu of personal appearances or oral presentations, may be submitted for inclusion in the record.

 

Information should be forwarded to Sharon S. Schellin, the Secretary of the Zoning Commission, Office of Zoning, Suite 200-S, 441 4^th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001.  Please include the number of this particular case and your daytime telephone number.  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, YOU MAY CONTACT THE OFFICE OF ZONING AT [phone].

 

ANTHONY J. HOOD, KONRAD W. SCHLATER, MARCIE I. COHEN, PETER G. MAY, AND MICHAEL G. TURNBULL -------- ZONING COMMISSION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, BY RICHARD S. NERO, JR., ACTING DIRECTOR, AND BY SHARON SCHELLIN, SECRETARY TO THE ZONING COMMISSION.