Meeting recap: BZA approves penthouse and townhouse projects, grants party status, continues contested addition
September 16, 2026 | Office of Zoning, Agencies, Organizations, Executive, District of Columbia
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The District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment took several formal actions at its Sept. 16, 2026 meeting.
- Closed meeting scheduled: The board voted to hold a closed meeting on Sept. 22, 2026 to receive legal advice and deliberate but not vote on contested cases (roll‑call recorded 5–0).
- Party status (case 21262): The board approved a motion to grant party status to a new owner of property adjacent to an earlier case (vote recorded 5–0).
- Penthouse expansion (case 21489): The board unanimously approved a special exception for a 2,700‑square‑foot penthouse expansion and tenant amenity renovation at 1401 New York Avenue NW. The project was supported by OP and ANC 2C and reviewed by the Secret Service with no reported security concerns. The applicant will remit a Housing Production Trust Fund contribution at permitting.
- Townhouse redevelopment (case 21509): The board reinstated and approved a previously granted approval for an 80‑unit townhouse community on Buchanan Street NE organized into 12 sticks/theoretical lots. OP and DOT supported the application; ANC 5A testified in support. The board’s approval is conditioned on implementing DOT’s Transportation Demand Management measures.
- Contested addition (case 21475): The board left the record open for the third‑story addition at 1226 F Street NE, requesting corrected elevations, inclusion of proposed screening in updated shadow studies, a matter‑of‑right comparison and other technical clarifications. The applicant agreed to file additional materials by Oct. 7 and the board scheduled a decision meeting for Oct. 21.
All recorded roll calls and tallies are in the meeting record. Where the board left items open it specified submission and decision deadlines to ensure the record is complete before a final vote.
- Closed meeting scheduled: The board voted to hold a closed meeting on Sept. 22, 2026 to receive legal advice and deliberate but not vote on contested cases (roll‑call recorded 5–0).
- Party status (case 21262): The board approved a motion to grant party status to a new owner of property adjacent to an earlier case (vote recorded 5–0).
- Penthouse expansion (case 21489): The board unanimously approved a special exception for a 2,700‑square‑foot penthouse expansion and tenant amenity renovation at 1401 New York Avenue NW. The project was supported by OP and ANC 2C and reviewed by the Secret Service with no reported security concerns. The applicant will remit a Housing Production Trust Fund contribution at permitting.
- Townhouse redevelopment (case 21509): The board reinstated and approved a previously granted approval for an 80‑unit townhouse community on Buchanan Street NE organized into 12 sticks/theoretical lots. OP and DOT supported the application; ANC 5A testified in support. The board’s approval is conditioned on implementing DOT’s Transportation Demand Management measures.
- Contested addition (case 21475): The board left the record open for the third‑story addition at 1226 F Street NE, requesting corrected elevations, inclusion of proposed screening in updated shadow studies, a matter‑of‑right comparison and other technical clarifications. The applicant agreed to file additional materials by Oct. 7 and the board scheduled a decision meeting for Oct. 21.
All recorded roll calls and tallies are in the meeting record. Where the board left items open it specified submission and decision deadlines to ensure the record is complete before a final vote.
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